Genesis rock on the Moon. Apollo 15 astronauts taking photographs of the area of the Moon where the Genesis rock was found. At centre is a gnomon, a device used to provide scale and timings for the pictures. To its left is a white object, which is the Genesis rock. This rock can be seen in image R346/043. The Apollo 15 mission was the fourth to land on the moon. It launched on 26 July 1971 and landed on 30 July 1971 in the Hadley-Apenninie area of the Moon. David Scott (upper right) and James Irwin (taking photograph, shadow at lower right) spent a total of 18 and a half hours on the lunar surface over 3 days and collected 77 kilograms of surface material. The three-man crew returned to Earth on the 7 August.