1971 Apollo 15 cacheted cover cancelled Kennedy Space Center July 26, with "Landed at Hadley, Moon, July 30, 1971" endorsement and signed by David Scott and John Irwin, further signed by all three astronauts at bottom left, with USS Okinawa Aug.7 return pmk. Back of the cover is signed by H.W.Sieger and numbered "035", with "this is to certify that this cover was onboard the Falcon at the Hadley-Apennine, Moon, July 30-August 2, 1971," mounting faults, otherwise v.f. (Apollo 15 was the ninth manned mission in the Apollo program, the fourth to land on the Moon, and the eighth successful manned mission. It was the first of what were termed "J missions," long stays on the Moon, with a greater focus on science than had been possible on previous missions. It was also the first mission on which the Lunar Roving Vehicle was used. The mission began on July 26, 1971, and ended on August 7. At the time, NASA called it the most successful manned flight ever achieved. Commander David Scott and Lunar Module pilot James Irwin spent three days on the Moon, including 18 1/2 hours outside the spacecraft on lunar extra-vehicular activity. The mission was the first not to land in a lunar mare, instead landing near Hadley rille, in an area of the Mare Imbrium called Palus Putredinus (Marsh of Decay). The crew explored the area using the first lunar rover, which allowed them to travel much farther from the Lunar Module lander than had been possible on missions without the rover. They collected 77 kilograms (170 lbs) of lunar surface material. At the same time, Command Module pilot Alfred Worden orbited the Moon, using a Scientific Instrument Module in the Service Module (SM) to study the lunar surface) (Image)

Est.$4,000