WASHINGTON - Before it gets to space, a moon buggy will make history by being the first to boogie along an inaugural parade.
NASA will participate in president-elect Barack Obama's inaugural parade with the crew of the latest shuttle mission and a small pressurized rover that is the current design for a mission to the moon in about 12 years.
It will be driven by astronaut Michael Gernhardt.
A spokesman says that while NASA has been part of past inaugural parades, it has never used a lunar rover as its representative before.
NASA hasn't chosen a final rover design yet, but the one in the parade is the leading prototype at the moment, succeeding wildly on a three-day desert trek in Arizona in October.
It is different from the Apollo-era open top rovers - it's sealed like a car, allowing two astronauts to sit in it without wearing bulky spacesuits.
The 12-wheeled vehicle which tops out around 10 km/h will then go on display for Washington media the next day, spokeswoman Ashley Edwards said.
Also marching in the parade will be the crew of Endeavour: Chris Ferguson, Eric Boe, Donald Petit, Steve Bowen, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Shane Kimbrough and Greg Chamitoff.
