Apollo
Apollo 12
Apollo 12 demonstrated that NASA could land on the Moon with pinpoint accuracy. Despite being struck by lightning twice during launch, the mission successfully landed beside the Surveyor 3 spacecraft, performed two lunar EVAs, deployed advanced scientific experiments, and returned pieces of Surveyor 3 to Earth for analysis.
Launch
November 14, 1969
Duration
10 days, 4 hours, 36 minutes, 24 seconds
Crew
Uncrewed
Mission record
Apollo archive entry · Successful
Mission Overview
The mission
Apollo 12 demonstrated that NASA could land on the Moon with pinpoint accuracy. Despite being struck by lightning twice during launch, the mission successfully landed beside the Surveyor 3 spacecraft, performed two lunar EVAs, deployed advanced scientific experiments, and returned pieces of Surveyor 3 to Earth for analysis.
Mission Details
Program
Apollo
Launch
November 14, 1969
Duration
10 days, 4 hours, 36 minutes, 24 seconds
Status
Successful
Mission by the Numbers
Mission Statistics
Mission Type
Precision Crewed Lunar Landing
Launch Vehicle
Saturn V AS-507
Crew
0 astronauts
Status
Successful
Mission Goals
Mission objectives
- 01
Demonstrate precision lunar landing capability.
- 02
Safely transport astronauts to and from the Moon.
- 03
Land within walking distance of Surveyor 3.
- 04
Deploy the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP).
- 05
Conduct two lunar extravehicular activities.
- 06
Collect diverse lunar rock and soil samples.
- 07
Recover components from Surveyor 3 for return to Earth.
- 08
Photograph the landing region in detail.
- 09
Evaluate extended surface operations.
- 10
Demonstrate improved lunar navigation techniques.
- 11
Perform successful lunar rendezvous and docking.
- 12
Expand scientific exploration beyond Apollo 11.
- 13
Return scientific samples safely to Earth.
- 14
Continue validating Apollo hardware for future lunar missions.
- 15
Advance humanity's understanding of the Moon's geology.
Mission Timeline
November 14, 1969 · 11:22 a.m. EST
Launch
Apollo 12 lifted off from Launch Complex 39A aboard Saturn V AS-507, beginning humanity's second lunar landing mission.
36 Seconds After Liftoff
Lightning Strike
Saturn V was struck by lightning, causing multiple electrical systems and telemetry to fail aboard the spacecraft.
52 Seconds After Liftoff
Second Lightning Strike
A second lightning strike created additional electrical failures, briefly placing the mission in jeopardy during ascent.
Launch Ascent
"SCE to AUX"
Mission Control engineer John Aaron recognized the electrical signature and instructed Flight Director Gerry Griffin to tell the crew, 'Try SCE to AUX.' Alan Bean switched the Signal Conditioning Equipment to Auxiliary power, restoring telemetry and allowing the mission to continue.
Earth Orbit
Parking Orbit
After confirming all critical spacecraft systems were functioning normally, Mission Control cleared Apollo 12 to proceed toward the Moon.
Trans-Lunar Injection
Departure for the Moon
The S-IVB third stage successfully accelerated Apollo 12 onto its trajectory toward the Moon.
Deep Space
Cruise Phase
The crew completed navigation updates, spacecraft inspections, television broadcasts, and scientific observations during the three-day journey.
November 18, 1969
Lunar Orbit Insertion
Apollo 12 entered lunar orbit in preparation for its precision landing near the Surveyor 3 spacecraft.
November 19, 1969
Intrepid Separates
Pete Conrad and Alan Bean entered the Lunar Module Intrepid and undocked from Richard Gordon aboard the Command Module Yankee Clipper to begin their descent to the lunar surface.
Powered Descent Initiation
Precision Landing Begins
Using improved guidance procedures refined after Apollo 11, Intrepid began its powered descent toward Oceanus Procellarum with the goal of landing within walking distance of Surveyor 3.
November 19, 1969 · 06:54 UTC
Landing at Oceanus Procellarum
Pete Conrad manually guided Intrepid to a remarkably precise landing approximately 535 feet (163 meters) from Surveyor 3, proving astronauts could accurately target predetermined landing sites on the Moon.
Surface Operations
Preparing for EVA-1
Following landing, the crew configured Intrepid for surface operations, completed post-landing checklists, and prepared their Portable Life Support Systems before opening the hatch.
First Moonwalk
Deploying ALSEP
Conrad and Bean deployed the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP), including instruments to measure seismic activity, solar wind, magnetic fields, and the lunar atmosphere.
EVA-1
Initial Geological Survey
The astronauts collected rock and soil samples, photographed the surrounding terrain, and evaluated movement and work efficiency during extended lunar surface operations.
Second Moonwalk
Visit to Surveyor 3
During their second EVA, Conrad and Bean reached Surveyor 3, the robotic spacecraft that had landed on the Moon in April 1967, becoming the first humans to visit another spacecraft on another celestial body.
Surveyor 3 Operations
Recovery of Spacecraft Components
The crew removed the television camera, scoop, tubing, and other hardware from Surveyor 3 for scientific analysis after their return to Earth, allowing engineers to study the long-term effects of the lunar environment on spacecraft materials.
End of Surface Stay
Preparing for Departure
After completing two successful EVAs totaling nearly eight hours, Conrad and Bean secured their samples, experiments, and recovered Surveyor components before preparing Intrepid for liftoff.
November 20, 1969
Lunar Liftoff
Intrepid's ascent stage successfully lifted off from the Moon, leaving its descent stage behind while beginning rendezvous operations with Yankee Clipper.
Lunar Orbit
Rendezvous and Docking
Pete Conrad and Alan Bean successfully docked with Richard Gordon, transferred themselves and more than 34 kilograms of lunar material into the Command Module, and jettisoned Intrepid's ascent stage.
November 21, 1969
Trans-Earth Injection
Apollo 12 departed lunar orbit and began its return journey after completing one of the most productive lunar exploration missions of the Apollo Program.
November 24, 1969
Splashdown
Apollo 12 safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean and was recovered by USS Hornet, concluding a mission that greatly expanded scientific exploration of the Moon.
Mission Complete
Precision Exploration Proven
Apollo 12 demonstrated that future Apollo missions could routinely perform precision landings and conduct increasingly sophisticated scientific exploration on the lunar surface.
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