1.
CU Full moon, Apollo II, 12 and 14 landing sites glowing
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2.
GV PAN Apollo II landing site
0.19

3.
SV Apollo 14 landing site
0.27

4.
CU Apollo 15 landing site, with line showing flight path
0.35

5.
CU ZOOM IN TO FULL SHOT Mare Imbrium
0.46

6.
CU Simulation of lunar descent
1.14

7.
Artist's impression of Apollo 15 landing site
1.23

8.
CU PAN Sketch of lunar horizon as seen from landing site
1.42



Initials PS/11.00 WLW/PN/BB/1135



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The most complex moon mission in the history of space travel begins on July 26 with the launching of Apollo 15 from Cape Kennedy, U.S.A. It will carry a "moon car" --- the first manned moon vehicle --- to be driven by the mission's commander, Colonel David Scott, over the moon's surface. The mission is designed for the collection of information and rock samples in the most comprehensive programme of its type every carried out. In preparation for the launch, VISNEWS has issued this film -- showing an artist's simulation of landing sites of previous moon missions, the site for Apollo 15's landing, and what the three astronauts can expect to see when they get there.

We refer you to VISNEWS productions 7077/71, 7075/71, and 7076/71, all serviced from London on June 24, showing profiles of the three astronauts involved.

SYNOPSIS: In the three manned moon landings so far, a rich store of information has been gathered from the Sea of Tranquillity, the Ocean of Storms, and the Fra Mauro Hills. To add to that store of valuable information the latest moonshot, Apollo 15, will be launched from Cape Kennedy on July 26 with three astronauts on board. It is the most complex moon mission so far.

The landing site for Apollo 15 is on the rim of a 500-mile-wide basin called Mare Imbrium--a dent in the moon's surface probably caused by the impact of a large meteor.

The three astronauts plan to gather information and rock samples from the first ever manned "moon car", to be carried on board Apollo 15. It will be driven by the mission commander, Colonel David Scott. The other two astronauts on the mission will be James Irwin and Alfred Worden.

The Apollo 15 landing site is located between a mountain range--the Apennines--and the long, winding Hadley Rille valley. The mountains, towering more than 15,000 feet (4,572 metres) above the landing site, are the tallest on the side of the moon facing the earth. This is the view the three Apollo 15 astronauts should see, as calculated by specialists in lunar mapping. The astronauts are now in training for the mission--one which will carry more individual responsibility than any other.