Moon's First Live Liftoff: Apollo 15's Historic TV Moment
On August 2, 1971, Apollo 15’s ascent from the Moon was broadcast live—the first televised lunar liftoff—after David Scott and James Irwin spent three days on the surface with a camera mounted on the lunar rover, which tracked Falcon as it lifted off and rejoined Endeavour, heralding real-time lunar coverage that foreshadowed later missions like Artemis II.