Transport - 2

The average walking speed of a human is 3 to 4 miles per hour, or 1 mile every 15 to 20 minutes. The average walking speed on the moon was far less as tripping and falling seemed to be the norm for many of the astronauts.

Considering this reality, a logical question would be how far can an astronaut travel from the habitat or Lander by vehicle and be able to survive the walk back should their vehicle break down. The obvious factors would include terrain, distance from their habitat, physical fitness, and remaining air supply at the time the vehicle broke down. 

As any experienced commercial diver will be able to tell you, working underwater in a cumbersome dive suit greatly impedes your productivity and mobility. The same is true of astronauts. The harder you work, the more air you require per breath and the less actual “bottom time” you have. A diver has the luxury of umbilical air being pumped to them while an astronaut does not have this luxury. 

The issue of colonial transportation development becomes not one of distance and load capacity but one of providing life support. Had the lunar rovers broken down at the extreme range of their distance capability, would the Apollo astronauts have had enough air to return?

Would the additional exertion of walking that great a distance back have taxed their physical and on board suit capabilities beyond their limits resulting in death?

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