Editing Apollo 15 (section)

== Assessment ==
The mission objectives for Apollo 15 were to "perform [[wikt:selenology|selenological]] inspection, survey, and sampling of materials and surface features in a pre-selected area of the [[Hadley–Apennine]] region. Emplace and activate surface experiments. Evaluate the capability of the Apollo equipment to provide extended lunar surface stay time, increased extravehicular operations, and surface mobility. [and] Conduct inflight experiments and photographic tasks from lunar orbit."{{sfn|Mission Report|p=159}} It achieved all those objectives. The mission also completed a long list of other tasks, including experiments. One of the photographic objectives, to obtain images of the [[gegenschein]] from lunar orbit, was not completed, as the camera was not pointed at the proper spot in the sky.{{sfn|Mission Report|pp=159–162}} According to the conclusions in the ''Apollo 15 Mission Report'', the journey "was the fourth lunar landing and resulted in the collection of a wealth of scientific information. The Apollo system, in addition to providing a means of transportation, excelled as an operational scientific facility."{{sfn|Mission Report|p=238}}

Apollo 15 saw an increase in public interest in the Apollo program, in part due to fascination with the LRV, as well as the attractiveness of the Hadley Rille site and the increased television coverage.<ref>{{cite web|last=Chow|first=Denise|title=Driving on the Moon: The 40-year legacy of NASA's first lunar car|date=July 29, 2011|access-date=November 23, 2019|publisher=space.com|url=https://www.space.com/12482-moon-car-lunar-rover-apollo-15-legacy.html}}</ref>
According to David Woods in the ''Apollo Lunar Flight Journal'',
{{blockquote|
Though subsequent missions travelled further on the Moon, brought back more samples and put the lessons of Apollo 15 into practice, this feat of unalloyed exploration still stands out as a great moment of human achievement. It is remembered still for its combination of competent enthusiasm, magnificent machinery, finely honed science and the grandeur of a very special site in the cosmos beside a meandering rille and graceful, massive mountains – Hadley Base.<ref group=ALFJ name=summary />
}}