Is Elon Musk's Tesla the first car in space? No - it wasn't

I have to admit - Tesla flying through space is impressive. However people forgot that the car in space was already there. It even rode - not only just fly - and the creator of his success was not a billionaire but a guy from Strzyżów, Poland . The first car in space was designed by a Pole - his name was Mieczysław Bekker.

By NASA/Dave Scott

This vehicle was called LRV - the Lunar Roving Vehicle (or just lunar rover) and it was a battery powered four-wheeled vehicle used on the Moon in the last three missions of the American Apollo program (15, 16, and 17) in 1971 and 1972. The contractor for the LRV vehicle was the Boeing Company, the main subcontractor of General Motors. One of the main constructors was Mieczysław Bekker, an engineer of Polish origin working in the United States.

He played an important role here. Mieczysław Grzegorz Bekker was born in Strzyżów, near Hrubieszów in May 25, 1905. From an early age he was distinguished by mathematical abilities. After passing the Matura exam, he began studies at the Warsaw Polytechnic. The choice of young Bekker fell to the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.

When NASA has announced a vehicle design competition that could navigate the Moon as part of the Apollo mission General Motors turned to Professor Mieczysław Bekker to develop such a construction. It was in 1961. Eight years later the winner was chosen. It was the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), whose entire technical solutions allowing for movement were authored by Mieczysław Bekker.

By NASA

For the first time this vehicle touched the surface of the Moon on July 30, 1971. During the Apollo 15 mission three rides were held. In total the astronauts beat 27.9 km in the LRV with an average speed of 9.2 and a maximum of 14 km/h. The second LRV during Apollo 16 defeated 27.1 km and the third (Apollo 17) 36.1 km. All three vehicles remained on the Moon. One more LRV was produced but unfortunately due to the interruption of the flight program to the silver globe it has never left the Earth.