November 19, 1969 - the Lunar Module of Apollo 12, with NASA astronauts Charles "Pete" Conrad Jr. and Alan L. Bean, descended and landed in Surveyor crater on the surface of the moon. Hours later, they performed their first extravehicular activity and deployed the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP), which remained on the Moon’s surface to gather seismic scientific and engineering data. Bean took a 16-inch-deep core sample of the lunar surface before both returned to the LM to eat, recharge their backpacks, rest and prepare for the next day’s EVA. www.nasa.gov/…
Astronaut Alan L. Bean climbing down the ladder of the Lunar Module (LM). www.nasa.gov/...
To improve the quality of television pictures from the Moon, a color camera was carried on Apollo 12 (unlike the monochrome camera on Apollo 11). When Bean carried the camera to the place near the LM where it was to be set up, he inadvertently pointed it directly into the Sun, destroying the Secondary Electron Conduction (SEC) tube. Television coverage of this mission was thus terminated almost immediately. Oops! www.nasa.gov/...
The launch of Apollo 12 on Nov 14 created one of the most harrowing experiences of the space program. The Apollo 12 spacecraft was struck by lightning twice in the first minute after launch, causing a major power outage in the spacecraft. All 3 fuel cells got disconnected from the power bus; the inertial navigation system went awry. www.nasa.gov/...
Some quick thinking and collaboration between the astronauts and mission control led to the famous instruction by EECOM engineer John Aaron to try "SCE to AUX.” Switching the Signal Conditioning Equipment to auxiliary power restored telemetry to mission control and to computing equipment, which allowed restoration of spacecraft power and subsystems.
1. Pic of bottom of panel 3 of the Main Display Console with the SCE power switch.
2. EECOM engineer John Aaron in Mission Control. Photo from NASA History Office.
The lightning strikes caused no serious permanent damage to Apollo 12, which continued and completed its mission
But, it was feared the explosive bolts that opened the Command Module's parachute compartment during splashdown might be damaged. The decision was made not to share this info with the astronauts since aborting the mission would not change the survival outcome. When the time came, the parachutes deployed and functioned normally.
No major changes were made to subsequent missions except for rules about launching during bad weather.
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