Apollo 12

Apollo 12
Name	Apollo 12
Mission type	Crewed lunar landing
Operator	NASA
Mission duration	10 days, 4 hours, 36 minutes, 24 seconds
Spacecraft	CSM-108 Yankee Clipper, LM-6 Intrepid
Manufacturer	North American Rockwell, Grumman
Launch mass	110,044 pounds (49,915 kg)
Landing mass	11,050 pounds (5,010 kg)
Launch date	November 14, 1969, 16:22:00 UTC
Launch rocket	Saturn V SA-507
Launch site	Kennedy Space Center LC-39A
Landing date	November 24, 1969, 20:58:24 UTC
Landing site	South Pacific Ocean, 15, 47, S, 165...
Crew members	Pete Conrad, Richard F. Gordon Jr., Alan Bean
Crew photo caption	Left to right: Conrad, Gordon, Bean
Orbit reference	Selenocentric orbit
Orbit periapsis	115.9 kilometers (62.6 nmi)
Orbit apoapsis	257.1 kilometers (138.8 nmi)
Orbit inclination	32.54 degrees
Orbit period	119.16 minutes
Programme	Apollo program
Previous mission	Apollo 11
Next mission	Apollo 13

Apollo 12 was the sixth crewed flight in the Apollo program and the second to land on the Moon. Launched on November 14, 1969, the mission demonstrated a precision landing by touching down within walking distance of the Surveyor 3 probe, which had landed over two years earlier. The crew, commanded by Pete Conrad, conducted two moonwalks, deployed a suite of scientific instruments, and returned over 75 pounds of lunar samples to Earth.

Mission overview

The primary objectives of the mission were to perform a precise landing in the Ocean of Storms and conduct extensive geological surveys and surface experiments. Managed by the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, the flight plan included a thorough inspection of the Surveyor 3 spacecraft to study the effects of long-term exposure to the lunar environment. The mission successfully proved that targeted landings were possible, a critical capability for future exploration of specific geological sites. Operations were supported by the NASA tracking network, including the Madrid Deep Space Communications Complex and the Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex.

Crew

The commander was Pete Conrad, a veteran of the Gemini 5 and Gemini 11 missions. The Command Module Pilot was Richard F. Gordon Jr., who had flown with Conrad on Gemini 11. The Lunar Module Pilot was Alan Bean, a rookie astronaut on his first spaceflight. The backup crew consisted of David Scott as commander, Alfred Worden as command module pilot, and James Irwin as lunar module pilot, who would later fly on Apollo 15. The support team included astronauts like Vance Brand and Gerald Carr, while flight directors included Glynn Lunney and Gerry Griffin.

Mission highlights

The launch from Kennedy Space Center was dramatic, as the Saturn V rocket was struck by lightning twice during ascent, temporarily disrupting the spacecraft's electrical systems. Flight controller John Aaron famously recommended switching to an auxiliary power setting, which saved the mission. After entering lunar orbit, Conrad and Bean landed the LM *Intrepid* just 600 feet from Surveyor 3. During the first moonwalk, they deployed the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package and collected samples. The second excursion featured a walk to the Surveyor 3 site, where they retrieved parts of the probe for analysis. Meanwhile, Gordon conducted photographic and spectral observations from the Command/Service Module *Yankee Clipper*.

Scientific experiments

The crew deployed the second Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package, a suite of instruments including a passive seismic experiment and a solar wind spectrometer. They also activated the Lunar Surface Magnetometer and the Cold Cathode Gauge Experiment. The retrieval of components from Surveyor 3 provided invaluable data on material degradation in space. Gordon's orbital work involved multispectral photography of future landing sites and observations with the S-068 Ultraviolet Camera. The returned lunar samples included basalts and breccias, which were analyzed by teams at the Lunar Receiving Laboratory.

Spacecraft and hardware

The mission used Saturn V serial number SA-507, with the Command/Service Module designated CSM-108 and named *Yankee Clipper*. The Lunar Module was LM-6, named *Intrepid*. Key contractors included North American Rockwell for the Command Module and Grumman for the Lunar Module. The Saturn V's S-II second stage was built by North American Aviation, while the S-IVB third stage was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft Company. The spacesuits were produced by ILC Dover, and the Portable Life Support System was developed by Hamilton Standard.

Legacy

Apollo 12 proved the feasibility of precision lunar landings, directly enabling the more ambitious science-focused missions of Apollo 14 and Apollo 15. The technical lessons from the lightning strike led to changes in launch commit criteria for future Saturn V flights. The mission's success bolstered NASA's confidence in the Apollo program following the historic Apollo 11. Artifacts, including the returned Surveyor 3 camera, are displayed at the National Air and Space Museum. The crew, particularly Conrad and Bean, became prominent figures in space history, with Bean later pursuing a career as a painter depicting his lunar experiences.

Category:Apollo program Category:Human spaceflights to the Moon Category:1969 in spaceflight