On November 19, 1969, the lunar module of Apollo 12, nicknamed Intrepid, landed in the Ocean of Storms region of the Moon. Astronauts Charles “Pete” Conrad and Alan Bean stepped onto the lunar surface, completing the second crewed Moon landing in history. Their mission tested precision landing techniques by touching down near the unmanned Surveyor 3 spacecraft. The astronauts collected lunar samples and installed scientific instruments to study seismic activity and solar wind. Meanwhile, command module pilot Richard Gordon orbited above in Yankee Clipper. Apollo 12 built on Apollo 11’s success and demonstrated that complex, targeted missions on the Moon were possible.
