Mar 23, 2010: Lunokhod

[xoxoxoBruce]

Lunokhod-1, which is pictured below, is a rover the Soviet Union landed on the Moon in 1970. Lunokhad-2, which looks basically like -1, landed in 1973, but they lost contact with both of them in the '70s.

Using laser ranging, they've sited Lunokhod 2 and its landing vehicle, Luna 21 with sub-meter accuracy. It's around the Le Monnier crater. Which may be why the contractor, Luvochkin, felt comfortable putting title to Lunokhod 2 and Luna 21 up for auction at Sotheby's in 1993. Together they sold for $68,500, delivery not included.

It would be a hit at a Steampunk Convention, that's for sure.

The buyer was Richard Garriott, aka Lord British, the guy who started Ultima. His dad was an astronaut on Skylab and the Space Shuttle. He also owns a Sputnik.

He also paid $30million for a ride to the Space Station, with the Russians.
If ya got it, spend it.

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