After the Lunar Roving Vehicle was deployed from its stowed position in Lunar Module Quad #1 (counter-clockwise from the leg of the lunar module on which the ladder was mounted), the astronauts went about equipping the LRV for exploration.

Among the first major structural elements installed on the LRV was the aft pallet assembly, which was located behind the LRV's seats. The aft pallet assembly and the lunar hand tool carrier were stowed in Quad #3, or 180° around the Lunar Module from where the LRV was stowed. Instructions for installing the pallet are

Pallet pins (4) seated in pallet support post holes, top and bottom, with lower left pallet ear against LRV latch backplate. Pallet restrained in three directions.

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Adapted from page 7 of the Apollo 15 Lunar Rover Vehicle (LRV) Lunar Surface Equipment Stowage Location and Criteria, located in the LRV Collection, Dept. of Archives/Special Collections, M. Louis Salmon Library, University of Alabama in Huntsville. Scan, restoration, and adaptation by heroicrelics.org.

Once the aft pallet assembly was installed, the astronauts began outfitting it with tools. The actual tools used varied from mission to mission; the tool load-out for Apollo 15 was

• Self Recording Penetrometer Assembly
  Penetrometer shaft should be bottomed-out in first hole from left-hand side of LRV aft pallet assy. Penetrometer ground plane foot pads are clear of top pallet. Velcro strap mated with velcro on pallet. Penetrometer can be moved vertically but is snug in hole when velcro strap is properly mated.
• Lunar Dust Brush
  Brush in bag, strap over brush body and mated with velcro on bag. Brush is restrained in all three directions.
• Lunar Sampling Rake
  Rake handle should be bottomed-out in third hole from left-hand side of LRV aft pallet assembly. Rake adjustment mechanism is clear of top of pallet. Velcro strap mated with velcro on pallet. Rake can be moved vertically but is snug in hole when velcro strap is properly mated.

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Adapted from page 9 of the Apollo 15 Lunar Rover Vehicle (LRV) Lunar Surface Equipment Stowage Location and Criteria, located in the LRV Collection, Dept. of Archives/Special Collections, M. Louis Salmon Library, University of Alabama in Huntsville. Scan, restoration, and adaptation by heroicrelics.org.

Once the aft pallet assembly was installed and outfitted, the lunar hand tool carrier could be installed:

• HTC Removal from Pallet
  • Remove lower right pallet launch restraint pin.
  • Pull top right pallet HTC handle up until pin clears right HTC ear.
  • Pull pip pin lanyard upward until two pins clear left HTC hinge halves (ears).
  • HTC can be removed.
• HTC Installation on Pallet
  • Left HTC hinge halves (ears) are inserted into pallet clevises, pip pins automatically engage HTC ears, pins protrude below clevises.
  • Top right HTC latch keeper (ear) is inserted into top right pallet clevis, pallet HTC handle latch automatically engages.
  • HTC restrained in three directions.
• HTC Pivot - Open
  Right pallet HTC handle is pulled upward until pin clears HTC latch keeper ear. HTC can now be swung to the left.
• HTC Pivot - Closed
  Right HTC latch keeper ear is inserted into pallet clevis, pallet HTC handle latch automatically engages. HTC restrained in three directions.

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Adapted from page 11 of the Apollo 15 Lunar Rover Vehicle (LRV) Lunar Surface Equipment Stowage Location and Criteria, located in the LRV Collection, Dept. of Archives/Special Collections, M. Louis Salmon Library, University of Alabama in Huntsville. Scan, restoration, and adaptation by heroicrelics.org.

With the hand tool carrier mounted on the pallet, the astronauts could populate the HTC with various tools. Again using Apollo 15 as an example,

• Tool Extension
  Tool extension is inserted as shown and is bottomed-out in hand tool carrier (HTC) interim stowage retainer (tube). Loose fit. Vertically restrained by retention bar.
• Tongs (32 Inches)
  Tongs "T" handle is inserted into HTC tray and handle is enclosed (over-center) in HTC clip retainer bracket slot. Snug fit. Restrained by retention bar.
• Adjustable Sampling Scoop
  Scoop is inserted into HTC retention bucket as shown. Loose fit. Restrained by retention bar.
• HTC Retention Bar (left)
  HTC retention bar latch pin secured by latch on HTC frame. Bar locked by HTC latch.
• Hammer
  Hammer face inserted into hammer tray as shown and handle is enclosed (over-center) in HTC clip retainer bracket slot. Snug fit. Restrained by retention bar.
• Gnomon
  Gnomon legs are inserted into HTC cup. Gnomon tube is enclosed (over-center) in retention clips. Snug fit. Restrained by retention bar.
• HTC Retention Bar (right)
  HTC retention bar latch pin secured by latch on HTC frame. Bar locked by HTC latch.

Click image for a 4018x5291 pixel version of this image in a new window.
Adapted from page 13 of the Apollo 15 Lunar Rover Vehicle (LRV) Lunar Surface Equipment Stowage Location and Criteria, located in the LRV Collection, Dept. of Archives/Special Collections, M. Louis Salmon Library, University of Alabama in Huntsville. Scan, restoration, and adaptation by heroicrelics.org.

With the bulk of the tools loaded on the hand tool carrier, there' only be a few additional details to which to attend. Two sample collection bags (SCBs) were mounted on the rear of the HTC:

• Sample Collection Bags
  Bottom collection bag strap is secured under HTC prong; clip retention handle almost vertical and clip retention pin protrudes into front clip face after top of collection bag is set into clips. Collection bag is restrained at three points.

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Adapted from page 15 of the Apollo 15 Lunar Rover Vehicle (LRV) Lunar Surface Equipment Stowage Location and Criteria, located in the LRV Collection, Dept. of Archives/Special Collections, M. Louis Salmon Library, University of Alabama in Huntsville. Scan, restoration, and adaptation by heroicrelics.org.

And a few more steps to complete the load-out:

• Documented Sample Bag Dispenser (DSBD)
  DSBD female shoe mated with HTC male shoe; latch handle upper ear latched above HTC male shoe vertically restraining DSBD.
• Core Tube Cap Dispenser Assy
  Core tube cap dispenser assy female shoe mated with HTC male shoe. Latch face contacts HTC male shoe restraining core tube cap dispenser assy in three directions.

Click image for a 3482x3427 pixel version of this image in a new window.
Adapted from page 17 of the Apollo 15 Lunar Rover Vehicle (LRV) Lunar Surface Equipment Stowage Location and Criteria, located in the LRV Collection, Dept. of Archives/Special Collections, M. Louis Salmon Library, University of Alabama in Huntsville. Scan, restoration, and adaptation by heroicrelics.org.