NASA's Apollo Lunar Surface Journal (ALSJ) records the details of each mission's period on the lunar surface as a timeline of the activities undertaken, the dialogue between the crew and Mission Control, and the relevant documentary records. Each photograph taken on the mission is catalogued there and each photographic sequence is also recorded. This page tabulates the Apollo 15 panoramas and, where appropriate, provides updated representations of the panoramas blended using more recent technologies than the originals.

Context

Apollo 15 was the first of the Apollo program's "J" Missions which used an enhanced Lunar Module that was capable of supporting a 3-day stay on the lunar surface *and* the delivery of the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV or "Rover") to the surface to allow the crew to extend the range of their exploration and to provide remote TV coverage. The crew are recorded as having been particularly enthusiastic about the scientific aspects of the mission and had actively sought additional training by the ground-based scientists in the months leading up to launch. Although the landing site had not been covered by High Resolution photography from the preceding Lunar Orbiter program, the proximity of Hadley Rille, was sufficient for it to be selected. Consequently, the mission's commander, Dave Scott proposed and actioned an additional EVA not long after the landing. This "Stand-up EVA" (SEVA) simply consisted of opening the LM's docking hatch on the top of the vehicle (i.e. not the door used to climb down to the surface) to gain a high vantage point from which to survey the area and assist in the planning of the subsequent EVAs. (This was the only mission to feature an SEVA.)

In terms of photography, Apollo 15's crew proved to be as enthusiastic at that as they were about the science in general; they took a total of 1148 frames whilst on the Moon, a large number of which were components of almost 150 distinct panoramas. These range from seemingly mundane sequences of rock fields for post-mission analysis by teams of geologists, through to spectacular coverage of Hadley Rille and the surrounding mountains. Also, it is worth reminding the reader that, since Digital Photography was still several decades from becoming available, all of the images captured during the lunar missions were recorded on film and post-processed after their return to Earth.

To assist in gaining bearings, the Lunar Module (LM) Falcon, landed with its door and ladder leg (AKA "+Z strut") pointing approximately 20° north of due west. The Sun's elevation was around 13° for the SEVA, 19°-22° for EVA 1, 31°-35° for EVA 2, and 42°-44° for EVA 3.

The higher elevations of the Sun across the EVAs can be seen through the improvement in the quality of the panoramas; the Sun itself, and any resulting lens flair, are barely noticeable whereas they featured prominently in the proceeding missions.

Non-EVA (LM-based) panoramas As mentioned above, Apollo 15 was the only mission to feature a Stand-up EVA (SEVA).

+ Table 15.1 Non-EVA panoramas Mission Time (MET) EVA # Location Astronaut Magazine Type Start Frame End Frame Alternate Panorama Source Reference Panorama ALSJ Alternate Notes XV 106:53:45 SEVA Black & White SEVA Pan Scott 85 Monochrome 11353 11382 N/A ALSJ This image featured in Appendix D of the Apollo 15 Preliminary Science Report. XV 106:53:45 SEVA Black & White SEVA Pan 1 HR North Scott 85 Monochrome 11355 11362 N/A ALSJ XV 106:53:45 SEVA Black & White SEVA Pan 1 HR East Scott 85 Monochrome 11363 11371 N/A ALSJ Note that the Sun features in the centre of this image. Since Falcon landed with its door (and hence windows) facing west (see above) this is the only non-EVA image in the entire Apollo program where the Sun appears (none of the other landings featured an SEVA). XV 106:53:45 SEVA Black & White SEVA Pan 1 HR South Scott 85 Monochrome 11363 11371 N/A ALSJ XV 106:56:54 SEVA SEVA 500-mm Pan of Hill 305 Scott 84 Monochrome 11239 11241 N/A ALSJ XV 106:56:54 SEVA SEVA 500-mm Portrait of Pluton Crater Scott 84 Monochrome 11242 11243 N/A ALSJ XV 106:56:54 SEVA SEVA 500-mm Portrait of Chain Crater Scott 84 Monochrome 11244 11246 N/A ALSJ XV 106:57:25 SEVA SEVA 500-mm Pan of a northern portion of Hill 305 Scott 84 Monochrome 11247 11249 N/A ALSJ XV 106:58:07 SEVA SEVA 500-mm Pan of Silver Spur HR Scott 84 Monochrome 11250 11253 N/A ALSJ XV 106:58:27 SEVA SEVA Color Pan Scott 87 Color 11730 11758 N/A ALSJ This image featured in Appendix D of the Apollo 15 Preliminary Science Report. XV 106:58:27 SEVA SEVA Color Pan Hadley Silver Scott 87 Color 11747 11751 N/A ALSJ XV 106:58:27 SEVA SEVA Color Pan HR North Scott 87 Color 11732 11743 N/A ALSJ XV 106:58:27 SEVA SEVA Color Pan HR South Scott 87 Color 11746 11730 N/A ALSJ XV 107:31:57 Pre-EVA Combined Post-SEVA Window Pan Scott/Irwin 85 Monochrome 11383 11397 N/A ALSJ This image featured in Appendix D of the Apollo 15 Preliminary Science Report. XV 107:31:57 Pre-EVA Dave's Post-SEVA Window Pan Scott 85 Monochrome 11383 11393 N/A ALSJ XV 107:31:57 Pre-EVA Jim's Post-SEVA Window Pan Irwin 85 Monochrome 11394 11397 N/A ALSJ XIV 169:37:47 Post-EVA-3 Post-EVA-3 CDR Window Pan Scott 88 Color 11931 11946 ALSJ N/A - Broken link at ALSJ Alternate generated due to missing original XIV 169:37:47 Post-EVA-3 Post-EVA-3 LMP Window Pan Irwin 88 Color 11947 11956 N/A ALSJ XIV 169:37:47 Post-EVA-3 Post-EVA-3 Composite Window Pan Scott/Irwin 88 Color 11931 11956 N/A ALSJ This image featured in Appendix D of the Apollo 15 Preliminary Science Report. XIV 169:37:47 Post-EVA-3 First Post-EVA-3 500-mm Pan of the North Complex Irwin 88 Color 11204 11217 N/A ALSJ XIV 169:37:47 Post-EVA-3 Second Post-EVA-3 500-mm Pan of the North Complex Irwin 90 Monochrome 12249 12256 N/A ALSJ XIV 169:37:47 Post-EVA-3 Post-EVA-3 500-mm Scott 90 Monochrome 12257 12258 N/A ALSJ XIV 169:37:47 Post-EVA-3 Post-EVA-3 500-mm Hill 305 Scott 90 Monochrome 12259 12261 N/A ALSJ XIV 169:37:47 Post-EVA-3 Post-EVA-3 500-mm Mt Hadley Delta Scott 90 Monochrome 12262 12265 N/A ALSJ

EVA panoramas - EVA 1

The crew's priority on the first EVA was the deployment of the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) which would enable them to drive rather than walk to remote locations. An added bonus was that the LRV was equipped with a TV camera that could be controlled remotely from Mission Control (unlike the tripod camera they also had); the quicker they got it set up, the quicker pictures would reach the science teams and the public at large. Consequently, they skipped the by-now "traditional" taking of "Tourist Shots" such as descending the ladder and saluting the flag at the beginning of the mission and pushed on to start exploring further afield. It took about 3 hours from exiting the LM to arriving at the first geology 'station' and the first panoramic shots.

+ Table 15.2 EVA 1 panoramas Mission Time (MET) EVA # Location Astronaut Magazine Type Start Frame End Frame Alternate Panorama Source Reference Panorama ALSJ Alternate Notes XV 122:14:35 EVA 1 Station 1 Pan Scott 85 Monochrome 11398 11415 N/A ALSJ This image featured in Appendix D of the Apollo 15 Preliminary Science Report. XV 122:14:35 EVA 1 Station 1 Pan - Stereo Scott 85 Monochrome 11398 11407 N/A ALSJ XV 122:14:35 EVA 1 Station 1 Pan - Two-frame down-Sun Scott 85 Monochrome 11398 11399 N/A ALSJ XV 122:14:35 EVA 1 Station 1 Pan - Four frame North Scott 85 Monochrome 11400 11404 N/A ALSJ XV 122:38:47 EVA 1 First Station 2 Pan Irwin 85 Monochrome 11422 11438 N/A ALSJ This image featured in Appendix D of the Apollo 15 Preliminary Science Report. XV 122:38:47 EVA 1 First Station 2 Pan - Up-Rille Irwin 85 Monochrome 11422 11427 N/A ALSJ Sub-panorama XV 122:38:47 EVA 1 First Station 2 Pan - Glass Boulder Irwin 85 Monochrome 11435 11438 N/A ALSJ Sub-panorama XV 123:17:15 EVA 1 Second Station 2 Pan Irwin 85 Monochrome 11446 11465 N/A ALSJ This image featured in Appendix D of the Apollo 15 Preliminary Science Report. XV 123:17:15 EVA 1 Second Station 2 Pan - Alternate Irwin 85 Monochrome 11448 11454 N/A LPI Sub-panorama XV 123:17:15 EVA 1 Second Station 2 Pan - Up-rille Irwin 85 Monochrome 11449 11451 N/A ALSJ Sub-panorama XV 123:17:15 EVA 1 Second Station 2 Pan - Hadley Swann Irwin 85 Monochrome 11449 11455 N/A ALSJ Sub-panorama XV 123:19:35 EVA 1 Station 2 500-mm Pan of Trophy Point, First Strip Scott 84 Monochrome 11254 11268 N/A ALSJ XV 123:20:51 EVA 1 Station 2 500-mm Pan of Trophy Point, Second Strip Scott 84 Monochrome 11269 11275 N/A ALSJ XV 123:20:51 EVA 1 Station 2 500-mm Pan of Trophy Point, Vertical Strip Scott 84 Monochrome 11276 11283 N/A ALSJ XV 123:20:51 EVA 1 Station 2 500-mm Pan of Trophy Point, Combined Scott 84 Monochrome 11254 11283 N/A ALSJ XV 123:21:30 EVA 1 Station 2 500-mm Shots of the Rille Bottom Scott 84 Monochrome 11284 11288 N/A ALSJ XV 123:21:30 EVA 1 Station 2 500-mm Shots of the Rille Bottom - 1st seq Scott 84 Monochrome 11284 11286 N/A ALSJ XV 123:21:30 EVA 1 Station 2 500-mm Shots of the Rille Bottom - 2nd seq Scott 84 Monochrome 11287 11288 N/A ALSJ XV 123:45:01 EVA 1 Seatbelt Basalt Pan Scott 86 Color 11583 11587 N/A ALSJ This image featured in Appendix D of the Apollo 15 Preliminary Science Report. XV 123:45:12 EVA 1 EVA-1 Closeout Scott 86 Color 11600 11602 ALSJ Note color film magazine, monochrome representation at ALSJ.

EVA panoramas - EVA 2

It was during the second EVA that Scott discovered what became known as the "Genesis Rock". This anorthosite is believed to be a sample of the Moon's early crust, and the hope of finding something like it had been a major objective during the selection of the site for the mission. Although the ALSJ records the finding of this as a "Panorama", the recorded image is simply a collage of five disjoint images.