Apollo 15 in Photos: A Moon Landing and the 1st Lunar Car for Astronauts
New Technologies
NASA's deputy associate director, Werhner von Braun, examines the color television camera planned for inclusion in the Apollo 15 lunar landing mission. The camera will be attached to the Lunar Roving Vehicle and operated by the astronauts or ground command from Earth by Mission Control. Astronauts David R. Scott and James B. Irwin will be on the lunar surface. Mission Control will be able to view the astronauts on the lunar surface as well as the Lunar Module as it leaves the moon.
The Suit
This illustration, from "On the Moon with Apollo 15: A Guidebook to Hadley Rille and the Apennine Mountains," by Gene Simmons, demonstrates the suit worn by the Apollo 15 lunar landing mission astronauts. The suit protects astronauts from the moon's vacuum and includes several improvements from previous Apollo suits. The image also shows various tools and other items the lunar explorers will use.
Mission Control
On July 26, 1971, the Mission Operations Control Room bustles with activity shortly after the Apollo 15 lunar landing mission launches.
Power Embodied
On July 26, 1971, the Apollo 15 space vehicle launches from Launch Complex 39 Pad A. The 363-foot tall vehicle, made up of Spacecraft 112, the Lunar Module 10 and Saturn 510, leaves Kennedy Space Center at 9:34 a.m. ET, carrying astronauts David R. Scott, commander; Alfred M. Worden, commander module pilot; and James B. Irwin, lunar module pilot, on NASA's fourth manned lunar landing mission.
Events Under Surveillance
On Aug 2, 1971, Mission Control Center's Mission Operations Control Room for the Apollo 15 mission has screens showing astronauts David R. Scott and James B. Irwin performing various tasks during the third extravehicular activity of the Apollo 15 lunar landing mission. At left, scientist-astronaut Joseph P. Allen, Apollo 15 spacecraft communicator, talks with astronaut Richard F. Gordon, Jr., Apollo 15 backup commander, motioning to something out of view. Director of Flight Crew Operations, Dr. Donald K. Slayton, at right, watches the astronauts as they work on the moon.
What a Backdrop
This image of the Command and Service Modules orbiting the moon during the Apollo 15 mission. The Sea of Fertility and the Taruntius crater are in view.
The Lunar Horizon
During the third and final lunar surface extravehicular activity of the Apollo 15 mission, an astronaut took this mosaic photo of the lunar horizon. It is the second in a series of three mosaic photographs creating a panoramic view of the surface. The Lunar Rover sits in its final position, hence the name of the image "Rover 'RIP' Pan." In the image from left to right Silver Spur on the Apennine Front; Hadley Delta Mount and St. George Crater; Bennet Hill and the Lunar Module are visible.
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Paying Tribute
Standing beside the deployed United States flag, astronaut and lunar module pilot James B. Irwin salutes during the third lunar surface extravehicular activities of the Apollo 15 lunar landing mission at the Hadley-Apennine landing site. Hadley Delta rises about 4,000 meters (13,124 feet) in the background. Astronaut and Apollo 15 commander David R. Scott captured the image. Astronaut and command module pilot Alfred M. Worden remained in the Command and Service Modules in lunar orbit during the EVAs (spacewalks).
Hadley Delta
From the top hatch of the Apollo 15 Lunar Module, astronaut and commander David R. Scott captured this image of Hadley Delta, looking southeast from his position. Silver Spur dominates the the image and was named by the Apollo 15 crew.
Apollo 15 Lunar Module Pilot
This official NASA photo presents astronaut James B. Irwin, chosen to be the prime crew lunar module pilot for the Apollo 15 lunar landing mission.
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Christine Lunsford joined the Space.com team in 2010 as a freelance producer and later became a contributing writer, covering astrophotography images, astronomy photos and amazing space galleries and more. During her more than 10 years with Space.com, oversaw the site's monthly skywatching updates and produced overnight features and stories on the latest space discoveries. She enjoys learning about subjects of all kinds.