OTD In Space – August 2: Apollo 15 Makes 1st Televised Lunar Liftoff
On Aug. 2, 1971, a lunar liftoff was televised for the first time. Apollo 15 astronauts David Scott and James Irwin spent three days on the moon before departing in the lunar module, named "Falcon."
An RCA TV camera was mounted onto their lunar roving vehicle, which Scott parked about 300 feet away with the camera pointed at Falcon. Flight controllers in Mission Control Houston had the option to move the camera, but because of some technical difficulties, they opted to leave the camera pointed in the same direction during liftoff. Following a quick pop and a bunch of sparks, Falcon quickly disappeared from sight. Shortly afterward, Falcon joined the command module "Endeavour," and Apollo 15 began its journey back to Earth.
An RCA TV camera was mounted onto their lunar roving vehicle, which Scott parked about 300 feet away with the camera pointed at Falcon. Flight controllers in Mission Control Houston had the option to move the camera, but because of some technical difficulties, they opted to leave the camera pointed in the same direction during liftoff. Following a quick pop and a bunch of sparks, Falcon quickly disappeared from sight. Shortly afterward, Falcon joined the command module "Endeavour," and Apollo 15 began its journey back to Earth.
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TechTranscript
00:00On this day in space.
00:03In 1971, a lunar liftoff was televised for the first time.
00:07Apollo 15 astronauts David Scott and James Irwin spent three days on the moon
00:11before departing in the lunar module named Falcon.
00:14An RCA-TV camera was mounted onto their lunar roving vehicle,
00:17which Scott parked about 300 feet away with the camera pointed at Falcon.
00:21Flight controllers in Mission Control Houston had the option to remotely move the camera,
00:25but because of some technical difficulties,
00:27they opted to leave the camera pointed in the same direction during liftoff.
00:31Following a quick pop and a bunch of sparks, Falcon quickly disappeared from sight.
00:35Shortly afterward, Falcon joined the command module Endeavour,
00:38and Apollo 15 began its journey back to Earth.
00:41And that's what happened on this day in space.
00:44♪