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.