Trivia

American astronaut.

(July 26, 1971 - August 7, 1971) Commander of Apollo 15 moon landing mission.

Along with fellow astronaut James Irwin he was the first person to drive on the moon - in the LRV (Lunar Roving Vehicle) or Rover.

In 2000/2001 was briefly engaged to British news anchor 'Ford, Anna'.

On Apollo 10 the astronauts planned to sell 100 commemorative first day covers taken to the moon to a German stamp dealer. The profits of the sale were to be used to establish trust funds for their children. Though technically not illegal none of the crew members ever flew another mission.

Flew on three space missions. Flew with Neil Armstrong on Gemini 8 returning prematurely due to a wild maneuvering thruster. On Apollo 9 he flew with James McDivitt and Rusty Schweickart in earth orbit. With James Irwin on Apollo 15 he explored the canyon Hadley Rille for 2 1/2 days being the first to use a vehicle (Lunar Rovign Vehicle or LRV) on the moon. The Apollo 9 call signs for the lunar module and command module were Spider and Gumdrop. Apollo 15 was an all Air Force flight since all three astronauts were from that branch of the service. The lunar module was called Falcon after the Air Force Academy mascot and the command module was designated Endeavour.

The only U.S. Air Force officer to command a lunar landing mission. All other landing missions (including the aborted Apollo 13) were commanded by then-current or former Navy officers.