The Flight of Apollo 15 MIRACLE MISSION INTO SPACE - George L Johnson - September 1971

George L Johnson

Apollo 15 involved the most complex moon exploration yet undertaken by the United States. It came approximately ten years after the first manned space flight. In the wake of the recent Russian space tragedy, American astronauts have completed what President Nixon described as the most ambitious exploration yet undertaken in space. The Apollo 15 mission which began on July 26 was plagued with irritating minor problems which almost caused the $445 million project to be scrubbed. However, after a brief test firing of the main rocket engine, the green light was given for Endeavour and Falcon to head for the moon. On Friday, July 30, after another minor incident with the Falcon moon taxi, astronauts David Scott and James Irwin landed on target in the Hadley - Apennines region of the moon. During their record 67-hour stay on the surface of the moon, Scott and Irwin conducted a total of 16 scientific experiments - one less than the other three Apollo landings combined. And with the help of their ingenious moon buggy they were able to explore much more area than the previous astronauts. - Information Supplied By: Herbert W Armstrong Library