Apollo 15 set several records for crewed spaceflight, including the heaviest payload in a lunar orbit, maximum radial distance traveled on the moon away from the spacecraft, the most lunar surface ...

NASA's Apollo 15 mission launched July 26, 1971, and marked the debut of the "moon buggy" as well as the three moonwalks and the longest stay yet on the moon's surface.

Reaction to the Apollo 15 moon landing from astronaut's mom, Marion Scott of La Jolla, published in The San Diego Union, July 31, 1971, page A-2. The San Diego Union.

Apollo 15 was the fourth American space mission to land men on the moon. On the historic 40th anniversary, we celebrate the often-overlooked voyage. See the full slideshow at LIFE.com.