Launched on November 14, 1969, Apollo 12 faced the unprecedented challenge of being struck by lightning twice within the first minute of flight. However, the mission demonstrated remarkable resilience, culminating in the second successful human landing on the moon on November 19, 1969.
Commander Charles “Pete” Conrad and lunar module pilot Alan Bean skillfully navigated the lunar module Intrepid to a precise landing in the Ocean of Storms, a mere 535 feet from the robotic Surveyor 3 lander. This precision marked a significant advancement in landing technology and paved the way for future Apollo missions to explore scientifically valuable but challenging lunar terrains.
Carrying the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP), a collection of nuclear-powered scientific instruments, Apollo 12 also transported the first color television camera to the lunar surface, enhancing the quality and breadth of data collected. This scientific payload contributed to a deeper understanding of the moon’s geology and environment.
Conrad and Bean, as the mission’s crew members, became the third and fourth humans to set foot on the lunar surface, following Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin from Apollo 11. Notably, Apollo 12’s spacecraft and launch vehicle closely resembled those of Apollo 11.
Originally designated as the mission to attempt the first lunar landing, Apollo 12 experienced a two-month postponement following the success of the Apollo 11 mission. The mission spent 3.7 days in lunar orbit, completing 45 orbits around the moon before the crew safely returned to Earth on November 24, 1969, concluding a 10-day and 4-hour mission.
