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David R. Scott

Former astronaut David R. Scott was selected in NASA’s third group of astronauts in October 1963 and went on to fly three spaceflights, becoming the seventh human to set foot on the Moon in 1971.

Quick Facts

David R. Scott’s first mission, Gemini VIII, marked the first successful docking of two vehicles in space.

David R. Scott's first mission, Gemini VIII, marked the first successful docking of two vehicles in space.

Scott is only one of three astronauts who have flown both Earth orbital and lunar Apollo missions.

Scott is only one of three astronauts who have flown both Earth orbital and lunar Apollo missions.

Scott was the director of NASA’s Dryden (now Armstrong) Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, from April 1975 to October 1977.

Scott was the director of NASA’s Dryden (now Armstrong) Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, from April 1975 to October 1977.

David R. Scott — David R. Scott
NASA

Earth is a deep blue backdrop to this photo of astronaut David Scott and the command module and lunar module of the Apollo 9 mission. The joined modules are a metallic silver. He stands in the open hatch of the command module while wearing a white spacesuit. A metallic visor tops his red helmet. — Excellent view of the docked Apollo 9 command and service modules (CSM) and lunar module (LM), with Earth in the background, during astronaut David R. Scott’s stand-up spacewalk, on the fourth day of the Apollo 9 Earth-orbital mission. Scott, command module pilot, is standing in the open hatch of the command module. Astronaut Russell L. Schweickart, lunar module pilot, took this photograph of Scott from the porch of the LM. Inside the LM was astronaut James A. McDivitt, Apollo 9 commander.
NASA/Russell L. Schweickart

This photograph was taken during the Apollo 15 mission on the lunar surface. Astronaut David R. Scott waits in the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) for astronaut James Irwin for the return trip to the Lunar Module, Falcon, with rocks and soil collected near the Hadley-Apernine landing site. The Apollo 15 was the first mission to use the LRV. Powered by battery, the lightweight electric car greatly increased the range of mobility and productivity on the scientific traverses for astronauts. It weighed 462 pounds (77 pounds on the Moon) and could carry two suited astronauts, their gear and cameras, and several hundred pounds of bagged samples. The LRV’s mobility was quite high. It could climb and descend slopes of about 25 degrees. The LRV was designed and developed by the Marshall Space Flight Center and built by the Boeing Company.
NASA

Biography

David R. Scott

David R. Scott was chosen as a NASA astronaut in October 1963. He served as pilot for Gemini VIII, command module pilot for Apollo 9, and commander for Apollo 15, logging 546 hours and 54 minutes in space and 20 hours and 46 minutes of extravehicular activity.

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Portrait of Astronaut David R. Scott

Astronaut David R. Scott

NASA

All Crewed Missions

Gemini VIII

All Crewed Missions

Apollo 9

The primary objective of Apollo 9 was an Earth-orbital engineering test of the first crewed lunar module, or LM. Other prime objectives included an overall checkout of launch vehicle and…

Mar 13, 1969 11:01 UTC

All Crewed Missions

Apollo 15

Apollo 15 was the first of the Apollo “J” missions capable of a longer stay time on the moon and greater surface mobility. There were four primary objectives falling in…

Aug 07, 1971 08:42 UTC

Featured Video

Apollo 15 Remembered 40 Years Later

Apollo 15 astronauts Dave Scott and Al Worden remember fellow crew member Jim Irwin in this 40th anniversary celebration of NASA’s fourth successful manned mission to the moon. The live event was held at the Apollo Saturn V Center inside the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. Apollo 15 launched from Kennedy on July 26, 1971.

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Former Astronaut David R. Scott

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More About David R. Scott

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