Apollo 15 Moon Landing Marks 55‑Year Anniversary

On July 30 1971, NASA’s Apollo 15 mission landed the lunar module Falcon in the Hadley‑Apennine region of the Moon. Astronauts mission commander David Scott and lunar‑module pilot James Irwin spent nearly three days on the surface, while command‑module pilot Alfred Worden remained in orbit aboard Endeavour. The flight was the first Apollo “J‑mission,” featuring the Lunar Roving Vehicle, which allowed the crew to travel about 17.5 miles, conduct extensive geological work, and collect roughly 77 kg (170 lb) of rock and soil, including the iconic “Genesis Rock.” Scott also performed the hammer‑and‑feather experiment to demonstrate equal‑rate fall in the Moon’s near‑vacuum. Apollo 15 set several records for the longest crewed lunar mission, longest lunar‑orbit duration, and greatest surface distance traveled. The 55th anniversary is highlighted with exhibitions and retrospectives commemorating its scientific achievements.