Today marks 50 years since the Apollo 15 space mission landed on the Moon, significant not for being the maiden voyage to Earth's natural satellite (that was Apollo 11 in 1969), but for being the first to take a car off-world.
Well, we say car, but the Boeing-made Lunar Roving Vehicle, or Moon Buggy as it's more popularly known, was a battery-powered, four-wheeled, 200-kilogram vehicle with no bodywork and capable of going 18 kilometres per hour. Three were sent – now potentially the highest-value classic vehicles in existence. But if you want one, you'll have to build yourself a rocket ship first, because they're still up there on the Moon and now exist only in our imaginations.
To celebrate this lunar-tastic motoring milestone, we've compiled a list of 10 space vehicles from the fantastic world of sci-fi cinema.
The Rover from 'The Martian'
The Rover, used by Matt Damon's character Mark Watney in The Martian (2015), is a huge vehicle capable of maintaining atmosphere with carbon dioxide filters and an airlock. It's powered by electric batteries with a top speed of 25kph.
In reality, the vehicles for the movie were made by a Dakar Rally Raid team based in Hungary. The movie was mostly filmed in Wadi Rum in Jordan, so the vehicles were set up to run in the desert with suspension capable of 40 centimetres to 46cm of travel. Designed to Nasa-style specifications, the Rover got its power from a 6.8-litre diesel and was steered via a drive-by-wire joystick.
Luke Skywalker's Landspeeder from 'Star Wars'
There are a huge number of vehicles to choose from in the Star Wars universe, from the towering All Terrain Armoured Transport walkers to young Anakin Skywalker's Podracer. But back in 1977, when Star Wars first burst on to the big screen, it was Luke Skywalker's hovering X-34 Landspeeder that captured all our imaginations.
It had a repulsorlift engine, three air-cooled thrust turbines and was capable of 250kph. It was actually based on an eccentric British three-wheeled Bond Bug car, which, with a 30 brake horsepower 700cc engine, could barely reach half that speed. Reflectors under the vehicle hid the wheels and gave it the appearance of floating.
The APC from 'Aliens'
The Alien series of films has featured several ground vehicles including the Weyland Industries RT01 Transport, an eight-wheeled heavy-duty machine from the 2012 movie Prometheus. However, it's the M577 Armoured Personnel Carrier from the second in the series, Aliens (1986), that is probably most remembered.
Four mammoth wheels dominate the exterior of the weaponised “drop vehicle”.
Watch the movie again, though, and you might notice something odd. From the outside, the APC doesn't appear to be tall enough to accommodate the troops on the inside. That's because it isn't. The vehicle was based on an ex-British Airways 72-tonne pushback tug used for towing jumbo jets; the interior was a mock-up set.
Captain Picard's Argo from 'Star Trek: Nemesis'
It seems a little redundant that wheeled transport should exist in the Star Trek universe with its flying shuttlecraft and the Transporter beam that can send you anywhere in an instant. Kirk and Spock are seen in a car in the original series episode A Piece of the Action, and in the reboot movie series, young Kirk runs away in a classic Chevrolet Corvette.
However, one of the most memorable vehicles in the series is Captain Picard's Argo in Star Trek: Nemesis (2002). Not only is it a movie prop, but the Pro-Truck Racer was apparently a lure to get Patrick Stewart to return to the role. A keen off-roader, he insisted on doing most of the stunt driving himself.
The Chariot from 'Lost In Space'
In the original 1960s Lost in Space series, the Robinson family would use the Chariot whenever they had to get around on a planet's surface. An all-terrain amphibious tracked vehicle, it was actually based on a Thiokol Snowcat Spryte, fitted with a six-cylinder Ford engine.
Fast-forward to the 2018 Netflix reboot series and the Chariot is a little more sophisticated, being a solar-powered electric all-terrain vehicle, with vacuum seals, life support and terrain mapping. Interestingly, the new Chariots were custom-made for the show and have meaty petrol engines rather than electric motors – look closely and you'll see the exhaust pipes in some shots.
The Eagle 5 from 'Spaceballs'
The 1987 Mel Brooks cult classic movie Spaceballs is essentially a spoof of the Star Wars trilogy, also poking fun at Alien, The Wizard of Oz and Planet of the Apes along the way.
Star Wars's Hans Solo and Chewbacca characters are replaced by Bill Pullman as Lone Starr and John Candy as Barf, a sort of half-man, half-dog being. And their spaceship is not the Millennium Falcon, but the Eagle 5 – a 1986 Winnebago Chieftain 33 motorhome with wings and hyperjet engines capable of “ludicrous speed”. Yes, it is all as amusingly absurd as it sounds.
The Armadillo from 'Armageddon'
Unlike the other big rovers mentioned in this line-up, the Armadillo vehicles featured in the 1998 disaster movie Armageddon, starring Bruce Willis and Ben Affleck, were to be deployed as mobile drilling units on a rogue asteroid set to hit Earth and wipe out all life.
The massive vehicles feature sealed space-capable cabins and huge independently articulated wheels. At one point, an Armadillo even acts as a shuttle, going space-bound to bridge a huge fault line across the asteroid.
The prop vehicles were custom-designed, built at a cost of $1 million and powered by Chevrolet V8 engines.
The Tardis from 'Doctor Who'
Potentially a controversial choice in this line-up, Doctor Who's Tardis (full form Time And Relative Dimension in Space) isn't exactly a car. Resembling a police phone box from 1960s London, owing to a broken chameleon system that would normally take on any shape that would fit unassumingly into its surroundings, the Tardis is both spaceship and time machine.
However, it isn't unusual for the Doctor simply to use it like a car to get himself around.
Pizza delivery car from 'Loki'
Spoiler alert: if you haven't seen the last couple of episodes of the Marvel Comic Universe offshoot TV series Loki, starring Tom Hiddleston as the god of mischief, you might not want to read on.
If you're still here, then there are two things you need to know: Disney bought Marvel Entertainment in 2009 and several Disney movies feature a reoccurring Easter egg. The Pizza Planet Delivery van has been in animated movies, including Toy Story, Monster's Inc and Cars. In Loki, a pizza delivery car was driven by Owen Wilson's character Mobius; Wilson also voices the Lightning McQueen character in Cars. Coincidence? We think not.
OK, this isn't a space vehicle (it's a 1960s Datsun Bluebird), and it isn't technically in space. But being driven on an unnamed planet in The Void at the end of time, it qualifies.
Pontiac Fiero from 'F9: The Fast Saga'
Here's another spoiler alert for you, if you haven't yet seen the ninth film in the Fast & Furious franchise.
Tyrese and Ludacris's characters Romain and Tej pilot a converted Pontiac Fiero space shuttle into orbit to take out a satellite. Yes, you read that right. And all it took to do that was some duct tape, jet rockets clamped on to the back, and a pair of old deep-sea-diving suits. Richard Branson, take note.
The mid-engined 1980s American sports car has never been much loved here on Earth, but out there in space, no one can hear you groan at the utter imbecility of the movie.
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Best Foreign Language Film nominees
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Match statistics
Abu Dhabi Harlequins 36 Bahrain 32
Harlequins
Tries: Penalty 2, Stevenson, Teasdale, Semple
Cons: Stevenson 2
Pens: Stevenson
Bahrain
Tries: Wallace 2, Heath, Evans, Behan
Cons: Radley 2
Pen: Radley
Man of the match: Craig Nutt (Harlequins)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
The specs
Engine: 4 liquid-cooled permanent magnet synchronous electric motors placed at each wheel
Battery: Rimac 120kWh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power: 1877bhp
Torque: 2300Nm
Price: Dh7,500,00
On sale: Now
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
Greatest Royal Rumble match listing
50-man Royal Rumble - names entered so far include Braun Strowman, Daniel Bryan, Kurt Angle, Big Show, Kane, Chris Jericho, The New Day and Elias
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
WWE World Heavyweight ChampionshipAJ Styles (champion) v Shinsuke Nakamura
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
United States Championship Jeff Hardy (champion) v Jinder Mahal
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Raw Tag Team Championship (currently vacant) Cesaro and Sheamus v Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt
Casket match The Undertaker v Rusev
Singles match John Cena v Triple H
Cruiserweight Championship Cedric Alexander v Kalisto
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
MATCH INFO
Juventus 1 (Dybala 45')
Lazio 3 (Alberto 16', Lulic 73', Cataldi 90 4')
Red card: Rodrigo Bentancur (Juventus)
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 2
Mane 51', Salah 53'
Chelsea 0
Man of the Match: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)
THE SPECS
Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre
Transmission: Seven-speed auto
Power: 165hp
Torque: 241Nm
Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000
On sale: now
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last-16, second leg:
Real Madrid 1 (Asensio 70'), Ajax 4 (Ziyech 7', Neres 18', Tadic 62', Schone 72')
Ajax win 5-3 on aggregate
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
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SPECS
Toyota land Cruiser 2020 5.7L VXR
Engine: 5.7-litre V8
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 362hp
Torque: 530Nm
Price: Dh329,000 (base model 4.0L EXR Dh215,900)
How to turn your property into a holiday home
- Ensure decoration and styling – and portal photography – quality is high to achieve maximum rates.
- Research equivalent Airbnb homes in your location to ensure competitiveness.
- Post on all relevant platforms to reach the widest audience; whether you let personally or via an agency know your potential guest profile – aiming for the wrong demographic may leave your property empty.
- Factor in costs when working out if holiday letting is beneficial. The annual DCTM fee runs from Dh370 for a one-bedroom flat to Dh1,200. Tourism tax is Dh10-15 per bedroom, per night.
- Check your management company has a physical office, a valid DTCM licence and is licencing your property and paying tourism taxes. For transparency, regularly view your booking calendar.
How green is the expo nursery?
Some 400,000 shrubs and 13,000 trees in the on-site nursery
An additional 450,000 shrubs and 4,000 trees to be delivered in the months leading up to the expo
Ghaf, date palm, acacia arabica, acacia tortilis, vitex or sage, techoma and the salvadora are just some heat tolerant native plants in the nursery
Approximately 340 species of shrubs and trees selected for diverse landscape
The nursery team works exclusively with organic fertilisers and pesticides
All shrubs and trees supplied by Dubai Municipality
Most sourced from farms, nurseries across the country
Plants and trees are re-potted when they arrive at nursery to give them room to grow
Some mature trees are in open areas or planted within the expo site
Green waste is recycled as compost
Treated sewage effluent supplied by Dubai Municipality is used to meet the majority of the nursery’s irrigation needs
Construction workforce peaked at 40,000 workers
About 65,000 people have signed up to volunteer
Main themes of expo is ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of opportunity, mobility and sustainability.
Expo 2020 Dubai to open in October 2020 and run for six months
If you go:
The flights: Etihad, Emirates, British Airways and Virgin all fly from the UAE to London from Dh2,700 return, including taxes
The tours: The Tour for Muggles usually runs several times a day, lasts about two-and-a-half hours and costs £14 (Dh67)
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is on now at the Palace Theatre. Tickets need booking significantly in advance
Entrance to the Harry Potter exhibition at the House of MinaLima is free
The hotel: The grand, 1909-built Strand Palace Hotel is in a handy location near the Theatre District and several of the key Harry Potter filming and inspiration sites. The family rooms are spacious, with sofa beds that can accommodate children, and wooden shutters that keep out the light at night. Rooms cost from £170 (Dh808).
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Name: Colm McLoughlin
Country: Galway, Ireland
Job: Executive vice chairman and chief executive of Dubai Duty Free
Favourite golf course: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club
Favourite part of Dubai: Palm Jumeirah
