Description2012 Great Moonbuggy Race Course Map.png
English: Course map
The NASA Great Moonbuggy Race course and specific obstacles vary
slightly in detail from year to year. This outline gives participants a general
idea of the course layout.
The starting line is located under the space shuttle, near the “Pits” Area where moonbuggies are inspected and repaired. Obstacle 1 is under the space shuttle.
Next, the course slopes up slightly on a paved path that leads to Obstacle 2, travels over a hill, and then slopes downward to Obstacle 3.
A sharp turn to the left leads through the U.S Space & Rocket Center’s rocket display area to Obstacles 4 and 5.
The course turns sharply to the right, remaining on asphalt and moving uphill through Obstacles 6, 7, and 8.
At the end of this straight section, a sharp turn brings participants to Obstacles 9 and 10, on the circular downhill path leading to the lunar crater area.
The course veers left into the permanent crater area and Obstacle 11. Racers must take a 360-degree, clockwise turn around this simulated lunar surface. Its largest interior crater includes a challenging 18-inch (45 cm) change in terrain.
Exiting the crater area, moonbuggies turn right toward Obstacles 12, 13, and 14, on a path that starts flat, then slopes uphill. At the last of these obstacles, it slopes downward again. Speed bumps help slow descent.
Finally, the course takes a left turn as racers enter the shuttle area and tackle Obstacles 15, 16, and 17 before reaching the finish line.
The NASA website hosts a large number of images from the Soviet/Russian space agency, and other non-American space agencies. These are not necessarily in the public domain.
The SOHO (ESA & NASA) joint project implies that all materials created by its probe are copyrighted and require permission for commercial non-educational use. [2]