In the final week before their July 26, 1971 launch to the Moon, the Apollo 15 prime crew, consisting of astronauts David R. Scott, Alfred M. Worden, and James B. Irwin and their backups Richard F. Gordon, Vance D. Brand, and Harrison H. “Jack” Schmitt, finished their training at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The initial countdown began on July 20, and the terminal countdown two days before launch. The astronauts completed their final training sessions to prepare for their exploration of the Hadley-Apennine landing site and the conduct of science from lunar orbit. The training included driving the Lunar Roving Vehicle in simulated traverses, final runs in the spacecraft simulators, geology briefings, and flying jets to maintain their piloting skills.
Left: Map of the Apollo 15 Hadley-Apennine landing site, showing the three planned traverses using the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV). Right: Apollo 15 backup astronauts Harrison H. “Jack” Schmitt, left, and Richard F. Gordon practice driving the LRV at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Left: Backup Apollo 15 astronaut Harrison H. “Jack” Schmitt suited up for a lunar traverse training session at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. Right: Backup Apollo 15 astronauts Richard F. Gordon, left, and Schmitt, training with the Lunar Roving Vehicle at KSC.
Left: Backup Apollo 15 astronaut Vance D. Brand, left, and prime astronaut Alfred M. Worden during an orbital geology briefing with NASA flight planner Spencer H. Gardner, left, and geologist Farouk al-Baz, separated by glass to maintain the crew’s preflight medical isolation. Right: Apollo 15 astronauts David R. Scott, left, and James B. Irwin during a Lunar Roving Vehicle simulation.
Apollo 15 astronauts David R. Scott, left, Alfred M. Worden, and James B. Irwin exit the spacecraft simulator at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Apollo 15 astronauts David R. Scott, left, Alfred M. Worden, and James B. Irwin maintain their flying skills a few days before their launch to the Moon.
To be continued…
John Uri
NASA Johnson Space Center