Special Sub-Topic: Apollo 15 Click Here To Play: Apollo 15

On what date did Apollo 15 launch?

July 26, 1971. Launch occurred at 9:34:00 a.m. EDT from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A. The crew consisted of David Scott, Commander, James Irwin, Lunar Module Pilot, and Alfred Worden, Command Module Pilot.

The commander of Apollo 15 had previously flown on Gemini XI.

f. David Scott had previously flown on Gemini VIII with Neil Armstrong in March 1966.

How many of the astronauts on the backup crew for Apollo 15 had previously flown an Apollo mission?

1. Richard Gordon was the backup Commander. He had previously flown on Apollo 12 as the Command Module Pilot. Vance Brand was the backup Command Module Pilot. He later flew on ASTP and in the shuttle program. Jack Schmitt was the backup Lunar Module Pilot. He later flew on Apollo 17.

At what crater was the "Genesis Rock" found?

Spur Crater. The "Genesis Rock" is an anorthosite, and estimated to be about four billion years old.

Which lunar surface experiment was first performed on Apollo 15?

Heat Flow Experiment. Apollo 12 had previously performed Lunar Surface Magnetometer, and Solar Wind Spectrometer experiments. Apollo 11 and Apollo 14 had both performed Laser Ranging Retroreflector experiments. The Heat Flow experiment required probes with temperature sensors to be inserted in holes with depths of 8 feet. It measured the near-surface temperature gradient and thermal conductivity from which heat flow from the lunar interior could be determined.

After jettison, Apollo 15's LM, Falcon, was left in lunar orbit.

f. After jettison, Falcon was maneuvered to impact the lunar surface by firing the engine until all fuel was depleted. The impact site was 50 nautical miles from Apollo 15's landing site, and was recorded by the seismic stations from Apollo 12, 14 and 15.

How far did the Apollo 15 astronauts travel in their Lunar Roving Vehicle?

27.9 km. Dave Scott and Jim Irwin performed three EVAs totalling 18 hours and 35 minutes. Dave Scott also performed a stand-up EVA prior to EVA 1. They were the first crew to use the LRV.

Apollo 15 was one of two Apollo lunar missions to deploy a lunar subsatellite.

t. Apollo 15 and Apollo 16 both deployed scientific subsatellites.

Which crewmember performed a 38-minute EVA after Apollo 15's transearth injection burn?

Al Worden. The Command Module Pilot, Al Worden, performed the EVA to the Service Module's Scientific Instrument Module bay to retrieve film cassettes.

On what date did splashdown of Apollo 15 occur?

August 7, 1971. Splashdown occurred at 4:45:53 p.m. EDT in the Pacific Ocean. The recovery ship was the USS Okinawa.