Final answer:
The Lunar Roving Vehicle, or LRV, was the dune buggy used on the moon during the Apollo 15, 16, and 17 missions, aiding in extensive exploration and scientific research.
Step-by-step explanation:
The dune buggy used on the moon during the Apollo 15, 16, and 17 missions was known as the Lunar Roving Vehicle, or LRV for short. These electrically driven rovers were a crucial part of the later Apollo missions, allowing astronauts to travel greater distances and conduct more extensive scientific research on the lunar surface. The Apollo 17 mission's first-person account by Harrison Schmitt, the only scientist to walk on the Moon, highlighted the importance of the LRV in exploring areas such as Taurus-Littrow. The LRV's contribution to the Apollo program was significant, as it enabled the collection of a larger and more diverse set of lunar samples and facilitated detailed surveys of the Moon's geography.