“I have viewed the entire Apollo 15 series you published, and found it to be outstanding. You have really done a great job and a great service to all who remember that era. Thanks for your interest and dedication to the ancient past.” – Al Worden, Apollo 15 Command Module Pilot
In July and early August of 1971, NASA embarked on an ambitious and challenging lunar mission – the journey of Apollo 15 to the Hadley-Apennine region.The first of the “J” lunar missions, Apollo 15 took the first Lunar Rover to the surface, allowing the crew to explore the beautiful region of Mt. Hadley and Hadley Rille over 3 days. New science was conducted in orbit as well, with the addition of an array of photographic and scientific instruments in the Apollo CSM.
This 6-disc set tells the amazing story of Apollo 15 through compelling sounds and images of the film and television record of the mission. From training on the Lunar Rover to the first live liftoff from moon, you’ll be there for each moment of the TV downlink and each foot of onboard motion picture film. Included are the raw television transmissions from the flight to the moon, all three moonwalks, plus the lunar liftoff, Trans-Earth EVA, in-flight press conference and more. This set also contains multi-angle views of liftoff and coverage of recovery through the statements of the crew on the carrier deck. You’ll discover Hadley Rille as you’ve never seen it before.
Apollo 15 was the fourth successful lunar landing mission, and in many ways the first of the great explorations of the moon. For the first time the lunar module carried the lunar rover, a battery powered two-man vehicle that weighed 460 pounds on Earth, but carried more than twice its own weight when fully deployed on the moon.
Additionally, the command and service modules were outfitted with new scientific gear for observation of the moon from lunar orbit. The scientific instrument module (SIM bay) would carry an array of eight experiments designed to collect extensive data in the lunar orbit environment. On the way back from the moon, command module pilot Al Worden would make the first deep-space EVA to retrieve film from the SIM bay.
The Apollo 15 landing site was one of the most spectacular visited by the Apollo astronauts. The area, termed Hadley-Apennine, is bordered by the majestic Apennine mountains and Hadley Rille. The Apennines rise 12,000 to 15,000 feet above the lunar surface, and Hadley Rille is an 80 mile-long sinuous rille with an average width of 1 mile and a depth of 1300 feet at the landing site. Together, astronauts Dave Scott and Jim Irwin would venture outside three times (plus a quick look out the top of the spacecraft) to explore the wonders of Hadley.
Rover #1 – Press and training of prime crew with LRV.
Chapter 1 – For the Press
Chapter 2 – Training
Fit Checks – LM descent stage uncrating and LRV fit checks with LM-10.
CSM/LM Checkout – Docking fit check between CSM-112 and LM-10.
Rollout – Rollout of the AS-510 launch vehicle in preparation for the launch of the 4th manned lunar landing.
Chapter 1 – VAB move from highbay 1 to highbay 3
Chapter 2 – Rollout to pad 39a
Pre-launch alert – From July 25, 1971, the day before the Apollo 15 launch. Shows removal of the mobile service structure and activity at pad 39a.
Launch day – Pre-launch breakfast, suitup, transfer to pad and ingress.
Chapter 1 – Breakfast
Chapter 2 – Suitup
Chapter 3 – To the Pad
Chapter 4 – Ingress
Launch – Features 8 angles of the Apollo 15 launch. Use your DVD player remote’s angle button to change angles on-the-fly. The final angle shows all the previous angles together.
Transposition and Docking – Television and 16MM data acquisition camera coverage of the docking of the CSM Endeavour with the LM Falcon. After extraction from the third stage of the Saturn V, the combined spacecraft would coast to the moon, making only midcourse corrections. This operation was televised and documented on 16MM film, and is presented in multi-angle form, with the television on angle 1, the 16MM on angle 2, and a combination on angle 3. Use your DVD player remote control’s angle button to change angles on-the-fly.
Intravehicular Transfer – Television transmission showing lunar module checkout at 34:55:00 GET.
Landing Site Observation – Television transmission at 96:48 GET. At this point in the mission the CSM/LM is passing over the landing site.
Undocking – At 100:39 GET the LM separates from the CSM to proceed to landing. Film appears to have been underexposed and “pushed” to bring out picture, resulting in film grain.
Landing Site Flyover – Original computer generated flyover created by Don Davis. Shows EVA traverses and major features of the landing site.
Lunar Landing – 16MM data acquisition camera from the lunar module pilot’s window showing the lunar module’s approach and landing on the moon. Features multi track audio with air to ground and flight director’s loop. Use your DVD player’s audio button to change tracks on-the-fly.
Stand-up EVA – For the first and only time during Apollo, the crew conducted an EVA in which the commander stood up through the LM’s upper hatch to survey the landing site. Audio only with photographs and panoramas taken during the EVA.
The Apollo 15 EVA coverage in this disc set includes both the television transmissions and the air to ground audio from the astronauts during the traverses between stations. Since there was no television during these segments, the photographs and pans from the previous station and the traverse are presented during these portions. By selecting “Play All” the viewer can watch the EVA straight-through as it happened. Television transmissions from the surface are derived where possible from videotape, as it yields a sharper image than kinescope. In some sections kinescope yielded better results. The videotape has been processed through digital noise reduction and color correction where possible.
The first excursion by the Apollo 15 crew lasted 6 hours and 32 minutes, during which the crew ventured south to Elbow crater and gained their first views of Hadley Rille. At the end of the EVA the crew deployed the ALSEP.
Man Must Explore – On Apollo 15 the camera captured the first steps of commander Dave Scott on the lunar surface, then was moved to a tripod to show LRV deployment, and then was placed on the lunar rover. After being placed on the rover, it was remotely controlled from mission control. Extends through the loading of the lunar rover in preparation for the first traverse. Surface television.
Chapter 1 – On the Plain
Chapter 2 – “Ease on down the ladder”
Chapter 3 – “Ok, Dave, I’m going to come on out”
Chapter 4 – “It’s beautiful out here!”
Chapter 5 – TV to the tripod
Chapter 6 – Falcon on the Plain
Chapter 7 – The rover
Chapter 8 – Rover on the ground
Chapter 9 – Getting ready to roll
Chapter 10 – Driving off
Chapter 11 – Loading rover
Chapter 12 – High gain
Chapter 13 – TV from the rover
Chapter 14 – Packing for an outing
Chapter 15 – Front steering
Chapter 16 – Irwin comes back out
Traverse to Station 1 – Audio only with photographs from Man Must Explore and from the traverse.
Station 1 – Elbow Crater, with Hadley Rille encountered to the north. Rover television.
Chapter 1 – Elbow Crater
Chapter 2 – Pan 1
Chapter 3 – Sampling
Chapter 4 – Caked Soil
Traverse to Station 2 – Audio only with photographs from Station 1 and from the traverse.
Station 2 – On the flank of St. George Crater. From this station the crew returned directly to the LM, omitting station 3. Rover television.
Chapter 1 – “The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen”
Chapter 2 – Hadley Rille
Chapter 3 – Comprehensive sampling
Chapter 4 – Double core
Chapter 5 – 500mm picture taking
EVA 1 (continued)
Traverse to LM – Audio only with photographs and panoramas from Station 2 and the traverse back to the LM.
ALSEP – Upon arriving back at the LM the crew commenced their work on deploying the ALSEP. Rover television.
Chapter 1 – “Can we do without the TV?”
Chapter 2 – ALSEP site
Chapter 3 – Starting the setup
Chapter 4 – SIDE
Chapter 5 – Demonstration
Chapter 6 – The drill
Chapter 7 – “That’s all I got”
Chapter 8 – Drilling problems
Chapter 9 – The wrench
Chapter 10 – Central station
Chapter 11 – More drilling
Chapter 12 – LR cubed
EVA 1 Closeout – Audio only with photographs and panoramas from ALSEP deployment.
The second EVA lasted 7 hours and 12 minutes, and included a 12.5 km traverse across the mare and near Index, Crescent, Dune and Spur craters. Drilling problems continued on this EVA, and a considerable amount of time was expended in an attempt to complete the drilling. The flag was deployed at the end of this EVA.
Another Day and Traverse to Station 6 – Audio only with photographs from the traverse to Station 6.
Station 6 – Sampling from the Apennine front.
Chapter 1 – Station 6
Chapter 2 – Sampling above the rover
Chapter 3 – The Apennine front
Chapter 4 – Positioning
Chapter 5 – Moving below the rover
Chapter 6 – Geology
Chapter 7 – Fresher crater
Chapter 8 – Core tube
Chapter 9 – Wrapping up
Chapter 10 – Back at the rover
Chapter 11 – Scooping soil
Chapter 12 – 500mm
Chapter 13 – Brushing the LCRU
EVA 2 (continued)
Traverse to Genesis Rock – Audio only with photographs from Station 6 and the traverse.
Genesis Rock – One of the most extraordinary sample finds during Apollo was discovered at this site. Rover television.
Chapter 1 – “Is it Green?”
Chapter 2 – Green cheese
Chapter 3 – “We found what we came for!”
Chapter 4 – Big rock
Chapter 5 – “What a contact!”
Chapter 6 – Small frags
Chapter 7 – Irwin rakes
Chapter 8 – Need some soil
Chapter 9 – Ready to leave
Dune crater and the traverse back to the LM – Audio only with photographs and panoramas from the “Genesis Rock” stop, Dune crater and the traverse.
Once More to the Drill – In an effort to complete the deep drilling, Dave Scott once again… goes drilling. Rover television
Chapter 1 – Back to drilling
Chapter 2 – “A great massage”
Chapter 3 – Considering station 8
Chapter 4 – Probe
Chapter 5 – Starting station 8
Chapter 6 – Picking a spot
Over to the LM – Audio only during the short move of TV back over to the LM area.
Back at the LM – Deploying the flag and the EVA 2 closeout.
Chapter 1 – Closing out day 2
Chapter 2 – Working at the MESA
Chapter 3 – The flag
Chapter 4 – “Let’s head on in”
The End of Day 2 – Audio only, activities on the surface to finish out EVA 2.
The final EVA on Apollo 15 began one hour and 45 minutes late, and was the shortest, due to a constraint to meet the nominal lunar liftoff time. Total time for the last EVA was 4 hours, 49 minutes.
During this EVA, which was modified for the reduced time, the crew first stopped at the ALSEP site to retrieve the drill core stem samples left behind at the end of EVA 2. Then Scott and Irwin headed west to Hadley Rille. The remaining stops were Scarp crater, the “Terrace” near Rim crater, and Rim crater.
Last Day – Audio only of the start of the last day at Hadley.
Preparing the Rover – Activities loading the rover for the final EVA. Rover television.
Chapter 1 – Prep
Chapter 2 – TV off
Chapter 3 – TV back on
Chapter 4 – Heading for the ALSEP site
Chapter 5 – But first… famous pictures
EVA 3 (continued)
Core – Includes audio only during the short trip back out to the ALSEP site to extract the core. Rover television.
Chapter 1 – At ALSEP
Chapter 2 – Finally!
Chapter 3 – The Grand Prix
Traverse to Station 9 – Audio only during traverse including photographs taken during traverse.
Station 9 – Sampling in the area of the Rille. Rover television.
Chapter 1 – Station 9
Chapter 2 – Taking the pan
Chapter 3 – Unique crater
Chapter 4 – Wrapping at 9
Chapter 5 – Leaving the TV on
Traverse to Station 10 – Audio only with photographs taken during the Terrace stop as well as photos from the traverse.
Chapter 1 – At the Terrace
Chapter 2 – The Rille
Chapter 3 – 500mm pictures
Chapter 4 – Stumble
Chapter 5 – Down to the Rille
Chapter 6 – Raking the moon
Chapter 7 – Double core
Chapter 8 – Six inch blocks
Station 10 – Rover Television.
Chapter 1 – At Station 10
Chapter 2 – Pictures
Return to the LM – Audio only during return to the LM area, including photographs and panoramas taken during Station 10.
Farewell Hadley – Final closeout of lunar surface activities on Apollo 15. Rover televsion.
Chapter 1 – Core stem
Chapter 2 – Postman
Chapter 3 – The Hammer and the Feather
Chapter 4 – Final parking spot
Chapter 5 – Last minutes
CSM Onboard Film – 16MM film from CSM orbital science operations
Lunar Liftoff – Falcon liftoff from the moon to begin the return journey to Earth. The launch was captured by the lunar rover television camera and by the 16MM data acquisition camera in the LMP’s window. This was the first televised lunar liftoff. The lunar liftoff is presented multi-angle, with television on angle 1, 16MM film on angle 2 and a combination of angle 3. Use your DVD player remote control’s angle button to change angles on-the-fly.
Ascent and docking – Approach and docking of LM Falcon to CSM Endeavour. Multi-angle track. Use your DVD player remote control’s angle button to change angles on-the-fly. Angle 1 is television transmission, Angle 2 is 16MM film and the third angle is a combination.
Chapter 1 – The moon out the window
Chapter 2 – Looking for Falcon to come home
Chapter 3 – Docking
Subsatellite Ejection – Orbital film from the command module, including footage of the ejection of the subsatellite carried in the SIM bay.
Chapter 1 – Orbital film
Chapter 2 – Subsatellite ejection
Last Rover TV Panorama – On August 4th mission control conducted a rover TV panorama to look at the landing site at a higher sun angle. The plan called for use of the rover TV as long as possible, as the battery life was projected to 78-80 hours. On August 6th the television was to be used to observe an eclipse, but at the end of the August 4th pan the camera failed due to an unknown cause.
TransEarth EVA – At approximately 242:00 GET command module pilot Al Worden conducted the first deep-space EVA to retrieve film from the SIM bay. Television transmission. The 16MM film was also supposed to record the event, but it failed, capturing only one frame.
Chapter 1 – Heading out
Chapter 2 – Magazine successfully retrieved
Chapter 3 – Wrapping up
News Conference – Television transmission of the in-flight news conference conducted during the coast home, August 6, 1971.
Coming Home – 16MM onboard film from the command module window. One of the parachutes on Apollo 15 failed, and the command module descended on just two. Includes astronaut and command module recovery, including crew statements on the carrier deck.
Chapter 1 – Entry
Chapter 2 – Two ‘chutes
Chapter 3 – Splashdown
Chapter 4 – Recovery
Chapter 5 – On the carrier
At the time of Apollo 15, the fourth lunar landing mission profoundly changed the way man explores the moon, extending stay times and mobility several orders of magnitude. Deemed a complete success, the mission paved the way for two more successful “J” missions, destined to explore other areas of the Earth’s nearest neighbor.
Note: Due to the limitations of the source material, there are some short color shifts during the EVAs, resulting from the drop out of one or more colors on the master videotapes. There are some areas where kinescope was used to correct the color drop-out where it was unacceptable.
Special thanks to Andrew Chaikin. Thanks to Kipp Teague for his assistance. Kipp maintains the most complete collection of Apollo imagery on the web at www.apolloarchive.com. Thanks also to J.L. Pickering, Colin Anderton, and Ed Hengeveld. Film transfers made at Bono Film and Video, Arlington, VA. Video transfers made at VTI, Houston. Thanks to Glen Swanson and Benny Cheney at JSC, Houston, and to Steve Garber in the NASA history office in Washington, DC. Thanks to Don Davis for the spectacular CGI flyover of the Apollo 15 landing site.