# Lunokhod-3
**Wikidata**: [Q1877513](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1877513)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/lunokhod-3

## Summary
Lunokhod-3 was a Soviet lunar rover that was built as part of the Lunokhod programme but was never launched to the Moon. It was intended to follow Lunokhod-2 as the next generation of Soviet lunar exploration vehicles. The rover remained on Earth and is now preserved in a museum.

## Key Facts
- Lunokhod-3 was part of the Soviet Lunokhod programme (1969-1977)
- It was intended to be the successor to Lunokhod-2
- The rover was never launched and remained on Earth
- It is classified as a lunar rover (space exploration vehicle designed to move across the Moon's surface)
- Lunokhod-3 has 7 sitelinks across various language Wikipedias
- Images of Lunokhod-3 are available on Wikimedia Commons showing side and back views
- The rover is preserved in a museum collection

## FAQs
### Q: Was Lunokhod-3 ever sent to the Moon?
A: No, Lunokhod-3 was never launched to the Moon. It was built as part of the Soviet lunar exploration program but remained on Earth and is now preserved in a museum.

### Q: What is the relationship between Lunokhod-3 and Lunokhod-2?
A: Lunokhod-3 was intended to be the successor to Lunokhod-2, following it in the Soviet lunar rover program. However, while Lunokhod-2 successfully landed on the Moon, Lunokhod-3 was never launched.

### Q: Where can I see images of Lunokhod-3?
A: Images of Lunokhod-3 are available on Wikimedia Commons, including photographs showing the side and back views of the rover.

## Why It Matters
Lunokhod-3 represents an important chapter in the Soviet lunar exploration program, even though it never reached the Moon. Its existence demonstrates the Soviet Union's continued commitment to lunar exploration following the success of Lunokhod-1 and Lunokhod-2. The rover serves as a physical reminder of the technological ambitions and capabilities of the Soviet space program during the Space Race era. While it never fulfilled its intended mission, Lunokhod-3 provides valuable insights into the evolution of lunar rover design and the planning that went into extended lunar exploration. Its preservation in a museum allows current and future generations to study and appreciate the engineering achievements of this period in space exploration history.

## Notable For
- Being the intended successor to the successful Lunokhod-2 lunar rover
- Representing the final stage of the Soviet Lunokhod lunar exploration program
- Remaining as a preserved artifact that showcases Soviet lunar rover engineering
- Having detailed photographic documentation available on Wikimedia Commons
- Demonstrating the Soviet Union's continued investment in lunar exploration technology

## Body
### Development and Context
Lunokhod-3 was developed during the height of the Soviet lunar exploration program, which ran from 1969 to 1977. The program had already achieved significant success with Lunokhod-1 and Lunokhod-2, making the Moon the only extraterrestrial body to be explored by robotic rovers from two different countries (Soviet Union and later China).

### Technical Specifications
As a lunar rover, Lunokhod-3 was designed following the same principles as its predecessors - a wheeled vehicle capable of traversing the Moon's surface to conduct scientific observations. While specific technical details are not provided in the source material, it would have incorporated improvements and lessons learned from the earlier Lunokhod missions.

### Preservation and Legacy
Unlike its predecessors that operated on the lunar surface, Lunokhod-3 remains on Earth as a preserved artifact. This preservation allows for direct study and appreciation of the engineering that went into these lunar exploration vehicles. The rover's current status as a museum piece provides a tangible connection to the Space Race era and the Soviet Union's space exploration achievements.

### Documentation and Accessibility
The availability of images on Wikimedia Commons and the presence of sitelinks across multiple language Wikipedias (Bulgarian, German, Hungarian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian) indicates that Lunokhod-3 continues to be a subject of interest for space history enthusiasts and researchers across different linguistic and cultural contexts.