{"id":168430,"date":"2019-11-18T15:33:00","date_gmt":"2019-11-18T19:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-455378"},"modified":"2023-09-13T14:48:23","modified_gmt":"2023-09-13T18:48:23","slug":"50-years-ago-apollo-12-on-the-moon-whoopee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-apollo-12-on-the-moon-whoopee\/","title":{"rendered":"50 Years Ago: Apollo 12 on the Moon \u2013 \u201cWhoopee!!\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Shortly after re-emerging from the backside of the Moon after entering lunar orbit, the Apollo 12 astronauts turned on their color TV camera and treated viewers on the ground to a 33-minute guided tour of the surface as they made their first pass across the Moon\u2019s front side. Commander Charles \u201cPete\u201d Conrad, Command Module Pilot (CMP) <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/GordonRF\/gordonrf.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Richard F. Gordon<\/a>, and Lunar Module Pilot (LMP) <a href=\"https:\/\/historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov\/JSCHistoryPortal\/history\/oral_histories\/BeanAL\/beanal.htm\" rel=\"noopener\">Alan L. Bean<\/a> excitedly described the lunar features as they flew over them for the first time, right up to the terminator when it became too dark for the TV camera. Conrad commented that even in darkness they could make out features on the Moon as well as on their Lunar Module (LM) <em>Intrepid<\/em> thanks to Earthshine. They then settled down to a nice meal, accompanied by some music they brought along before going behind the Moon to start their second orbit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"276\" height=\"196\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_tv-4_rev_1_crater_eratosthenes_nov_17_1969_s69-58568.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_tv-4_rev_1_crater_eratosthenes_nov_17_1969\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"269\" height=\"197\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_tv-4_rev_sea_of_serenity_nov_17_1969_s69-58567.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_tv-4_rev_sea_of_serenity_nov_17_1969\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"284\" height=\"198\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_tv-4_nov_17_1969_s69-58569.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_tv-4_nov_17_1969\"><br> <em>Three stills of the lunar surface from the TV downlink during Apollo 12\u2019s first orbit around the Moon. Left: Crater Eratosthenes. Middle and right: Two view of the Sea of Serenity.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After an uneventful second pass on the front side, Apollo 12 disappeared behind the Moon again.  During the backside pass, the crew fired the Service Module\u2019s Service Propulsion System (SPS) engine for 17 seconds to change their orbit to a more circular 76-by-62 miles.  In preparation for upcoming activities, the astronauts pressurized the LM during the third revolution and opened the hatches just before disappearing behind the Moon to begin their fourth revolution.  Conrad and Bean reactivated <em>Intrepid<\/em> to complete communications checks with Gordon in the Command Module <em>Yankee Clipper<\/em>.  The checks complete, Conrad and Bean returned to <em>Yankee Clipper<\/em> and deactivated <em>Intrepid, <\/em>closing the hatches between the two spacecraft.  They settled down to dinner as they went around the backside of the Moon to start their fifth revolution, and then began their first night\u2019s sleep in lunar orbit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"238\" height=\"238\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_crater_eratosthenes_rev_2_nov_17_1969_as12-50-7433.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_crater_eratosthenes_rev_2_nov_17_1969\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"241\" height=\"241\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_copernicus_oblique_as12-51-7541.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_copernicus_oblique\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"240\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_fra_mauro_landing_site_marked.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_fra_mauro_landing_site_marked\"><br><em>Left: Crater Eratosthenes from Apollo 12. Middle: Oblique view of Crater Copernicus located north of Apollo 12\u2019s flight path. Right: Image from lunar orbit of the Fra Mauro highlands, the proposed landing site for Apollo 13 (inside white circle).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To awaken the crew, Mission Control radioed up <em>Reveille<\/em> during the spacecraft\u2019s ninth revolution around the Moon, just prior to loss of signal.  One early task for the day once they returned to the Moon\u2019s front side included taking photographs of the Fra Mauro highlands area, the proposed landing site for Apollo 13.  Then Conrad and Bean donned their spacesuits and began preparations to enter and reactivate the LM in preparation for the separation and landing.  As an important task in that preparation, they extended and locked <em>Intrepid<\/em>\u2019s landing legs.  Undocking and separation of <em>Intrepid<\/em> from <em>Yankee Clipper<\/em> occurred on the 13th revolution, with Gordon providing color TV of the event.  Gordon fired <em>Yankee Clipper<\/em>\u2019s Reaction Control System thrusters to separate from <em>Intrepid<\/em>, then while behind the Moon, Conrad and Bean fired the LM\u2019s Descent Propulsion System (DPS) engine for 29 seconds to complete the Descent Orbit Insertion (DOI) maneuver to lower the low point of <em>Intrepid<\/em>\u2019s orbit to 9.3 miles.  They had a beautiful view of Earthrise as they came around to the Moon\u2019s front side on the 14th orbit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"239\" height=\"240\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_intrepid_from_yankee_clipper_after_undocking_as12-51-7507.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_intrepid_from_yankee_clipper_after_undocking\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"241\" height=\"241\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_yankee_clipper_from_intrepid_after_undocking_as12-47-6878.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_yankee_clipper_from_intrepid_after_undocking\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"242\" height=\"242\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_earthrise_from_intrepid_after_undocking_as12-47-6891.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_earthrise_from_intrepid_after_undocking\"><br><em>Left: <\/em>Intrepid<em> as seen from <\/em>Yankee Clipper<em> shortly after undocking. Middle: <\/em>Yankee Clipper<em> as seen from<\/em> Intrepid<em> shortly after undocking. Right: Earthrise as seen from <\/em>Intrepid<em> after the DOI burn.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Mission Control, the Visitors Gallery began to fill with dignitaries, including NASA Administrator Thomas O. Paine and his wife Barbara, Deputy Administrator appointee George M. Low, Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight George E. Mueller, Director of the Marshall Space Flight Center Werhner von Braun, and astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Edwin E. \u201cBuzz\u201d Aldrin, and Frank Borman.   Exactly half a revolution after the DOI maneuver, <em>Intrepid<\/em>\u2019s DPS began the 11-minute Powered Descent Initiation (PDI) burn to drop it from orbit all the way to the landing in the Ocean of Storms.  At the start of the burn, <em>Intrepid<\/em> was 300 miles from the landing site, with the DPS engine initially at 10 percent thrust then brought up to 93 percent thrust after 26 seconds.  With Bean providing updates from the guidance computer, Conrad skillfully piloted <em>Intrepid<\/em> to a smooth landing just northwest of Surveyor Crater, and as they learned later, only 538 feet from Surveyor 3, a robotic spacecraft that had landed there in April 1967.  Without much fanfare, Conrad and Bean completed the postlanding checklist, although Bean allowed himself a little exuberant \u201cGood landing, Pete!  Outstanding, man!  Beautiful!\u201d  Conrad radioed to Mission Control, \u201cOkay, we\u2019re in hot shape, Houston.  We\u2019re in real good shape!\u201d With the landing of Apollo 12, Conrad and Bean doubled the number of humans to have visited the Moon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"279\" height=\"259\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_landing_area_still_from_16mm_film_annotated.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_landing_area_still_from_16mm_film_annotated\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"258\" height=\"259\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_postlanding_first_surface_photo_from_cdr_window_as12-48-7022hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_postlanding_first_surface_photo_from_cdr_window\"><br><em>Left: Still from 16 mm film looking out from Bean\u2019s LM window at about 3,500 feet altitude during the descent, showing location of Surveyor crater, the Apollo 12 landing site. Right: First photograph taken from the lunar surface by Apollo 12, showing one of the LM thrusters out Conrad\u2019s window.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"212\" height=\"214\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_postlanding_from_cdr_window_as12-48-7023hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_postlanding_from_cdr_window\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"211\" height=\"212\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_postlanding_from_cdr_window_as12-48-7026hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_postlanding_from_cdr_window\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"212\" height=\"212\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_postlanding_from_lmp_window_as12-48-7028hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_postlanding_from_lmp_window\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"213\" height=\"214\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_postlanding_from_lmp_window_as12-48-7031hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_postlanding_from_lmp_window\"><br><em>Four views of the Apollo 12 landing site taken shortly after landing through the LM windows, the first two through Conrad\u2019s and the last two through Bean\u2019s window.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gordon, who listened to the landing on the radio, called down to congratulate Conrad and Bean on the successful touchdown. Conrad remarked that their site appeared to be dustier than the Apollo 11 landing point, leading to an IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) landing, meaning in the final stages he lost visibility and flew strictly by instruments. Capcom Gerald P. \u201cJerry\u201d Carr radioed that since <em>Intrepid<\/em>\u2019s systems were functioning normally, they were given the go to stay on the surface, but as part of normal procedures Conrad and Bean prepared for an emergency takeoff, just in case. Once those activities were completed, they had a chance to look out the windows, with Bean exclaiming, \u201cHoly cran, it\u2019s beautiful out here!\u201d Conrad replied, \u201cIt sure is; it\u2019s something else,\u201d later adding, \u201cMan! I can\u2019t wait to get outside!\u201d  They photographed the landing area from inside the LM and provided a description to eager geologists on the ground.  The very low Sun angle made distinguishing detailed features difficult.  Bean also remarked how they enjoyed the low lunar one-sixth g, even in the confined quarters of the LM.  After grabbing a meal and powering down the LM to conserve power, Conrad and Bean began preparations for their first Extravehicular Activity (EVA) or surface spacewalk.  During his next pass over the landing site on rev 16, Gordon was able to spot <em>Intrepid<\/em> and Surveyor 3 on the surface using a 28-power sextant, providing an accurate description of the LM\u2019s location northwest of Surveyor Crater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva_traverses\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva_traverses.jpg\" width=\"571\" height=\"378\"><br>\n<em>Map of the Apollo 12 EVA1 and EVA2 traverses.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"226\" height=\"227\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva1_conrad_on_ladder_as12-46-6718hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva1_conrad_on_ladder\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"212\" height=\"227\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva1_bean_stepping_on_surface_as12-46-6729.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva1_bean_stepping_on_surface\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"226\" height=\"228\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva1_s-band_antenna_as12-46-6750hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva1_s-band_antenna\"><br><em>Left: Conrad on the LM\u2019s ladder about to descend to the surface, taken by Bean from inside <\/em>Intrepid<em>. Middle: Bean taking his first step on the Moon. Right: The S-band communications antenna.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Conrad and Bean donned their Portable Life Support System (PLSS) backpacks that provided oxygen and communications while they were on the surface and put on and locked their helmets and gloves. They depressurized the LM, opened the hatch, and Conrad backed out onto the porch and slowly climbed down the ladder.  Halfway down, he pulled a lanyard that deployed the Modular Equipment Stowage Assembly (MESA) on the side of the LM\u2019s descent stage.  Located on the MESA, a color TV camera automatically activated, giving viewers around the world an image of Conrad on the LM ladder. After he jumped from the bottom rung onto the footpad, Conrad exclaimed, \u201cWhoopee! Man, that may have been a small one for Neil, but that\u2019s a long one for me,\u201d in reference to Armstrong\u2019s famous words as he took humanity\u2019s first step on the lunar surface and Conrad\u2019s shorter stature. As he stepped off the pad, he remarked, \u201cOooh is that soft and queasy.\u201d After taking a few tentative steps, Conrad informed everyone that he could see Surveyor 3 sitting inside the crater. He proceeded to collect the contingency sample \u2013 in case they had to leave quickly due to an emergency, geologists would at least have a small sample from the Ocean of Storms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"218\" height=\"218\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva1_swc_as12-47-6898.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva1_swc\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"217\" height=\"217\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva1_conrad_holding_flag_bean_shadow_as12-47-6896.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva1_conrad_holding_flag_bean_shadow\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"218\" height=\"218\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva1_bean_w_alsep_rtg_package_2_as12-46-6785hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva1_bean_w_alsep_rtg_package_2\"><br><em>Left: The Solar Wind Collector Experiment. Middle: Conrad holding the flag after he and Bean planted it on the surface. Right: Bean removing ALSEP hardware from the SEQ bay.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bean joined Conrad on the surface, and they both acclimated rapidly to working in one-sixth g. Conrad set up the S-band antenna for communications with Earth, but while setting up the TV camera, Bean accidentally pointed it at the Sun and damaged the vidicon tube, ending the live TV transmission from the Moon. Bean deployed the Solar Wind Collector (SWC), a Swiss experiment that collected particles from the solar wind. Conrad and Bean set up the American flag, but the horizontal crossbar meant to keep the flag unfurled didn\u2019t latch, leaving the flag somewhat limp unless one of the astronauts held it up by a corner. Conrad took a series of panoramic photos while Bean photographed the LM then they began the primary task of the first EVA \u2013 setting up the various instruments of the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiment Package (ALSEP). The LM had carried the experiments to the Moon stowed in the Scientific Equipment (SEQ) bay, from where Conrad and Bean unstowed them and carried them to their deployment location about 430 feet to the northwest of <em>Intrepid<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"219\" height=\"220\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva1_bean_carrying_alsep_package_1_as12-46-6806hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva1_bean_carrying_alsep_package_1\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"219\" height=\"220\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva1_alsep_with_conrad_as12-47-6921hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva1_alsep_with_conrad\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"222\" height=\"222\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva1_central_station_with_lm_in_background_as12-47-6928hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva1_central_station_with_lm_in_background\"><br><em>Left: Bean carrying the ALSEP hardware to its deployment location. Middle: Conrad working at the ALSEP Central Station with other experiments deployed. Right: ALSEP Central Station with other deployed experiments and <\/em>Intrepid<em> in the background.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the next hour, Bean and Conrad explored the area around the ALSEP site, in particular visiting and photographing Head Crater, a large mound of undetermined origin, and Middle Crescent Crater, a 1,000-foot diameter crater northwest of the ALSEP station and the furthest point of the EVA1 traverse. Because their suit consumables remained adequate, Mission Control extended the EVA by 30 minutes, providing them extra time to explore and collect rock and soil samples before heading back toward <em>Intrepid<\/em>. Back at <em>Intrepid<\/em>, Bean collected a core sample and they both loaded their samples into a Sample Return Container (SRC) or rock box for transfer up to the cabin. They remarked on several occasions how the lunar dust clung to everything, their suits and equipment, and as Conrad quipped earlier in the EVA, \u201cWe\u2019re going to be a couple of dirty boogers.\u201d Lunar dust was a problem for all Apollo astronauts and will pose a challenge for future lunar explorers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"228\" height=\"229\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva1_large_mound_as12-46-6794hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva1_large_mound\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"227\" height=\"228\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva1_middle_crescent_crater_with_astro_shadows_as12-46-6841hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva1_middle_crescent_crater_with_astro_shadows\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"228\" height=\"228\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva1_conrad_collecting_sample_w_tongs_as12-47-6932hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva1_conrad_collecting_sample_w_tongs\"><br><em>Left: Conrad\u2019s photograph of the Large Mound northwest of <\/em>Intrepid<em>. Middle: Looking inside Middle Crescent Crater, with the astronauts\u2019 shadows, Conrad on the left and Bean on the right. Right: Conrad about to collect a rock sample.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First Bean climbed up the ladder after Conrad tried to brush as much dust from his suit as possible. Once inside the cabin, Bean kicked out a trash bag and worked with Conrad to haul up a camera bag and the filled SRC using a lanyard system. Conrad followed up the ladder and once both crewmembers were inside <em>Intrepid<\/em> they closed the hatch and repressurized the cabin. Their first EVA lasted 3 hours and 56 minutes. They removed their helmets and gloves and began recharging their PLSS backpacks. Meanwhile, Gordon in <em>Yankee Clipper<\/em> performed a plane change maneuver during revolution 19, the first time a solo crewmember completed a burn of the SPS. Because <em>Yankee Clipper<\/em>\u2019s orbit precessed, or moved westward over time, the maneuver realigned it for the rendezvous with <em>Intrepid<\/em> the following day. Conrad and Bean, after a debrief of EVA1 with Capcom Edward G. Gibson, grabbed a quick dinner, set up hammocks in <em>Intrepid,<\/em> and went to sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After a short night\u2019s rest, neither crewmember getting more than four or five hours of sleep, Conrad and Bean prepared to go outside for their second EVA. Following a quick breakfast and a discussion with Gibson to review the plans for this traverse, they donned their helmets and gloves and depressurized <em>Intrepid<\/em>. Repeating the steps of the previous day, first Conrad and then Bean descended the ladder to the surface. As their first task, they cut the cable to the failed TV camera and placed it in a bag for return to Houston for postflight analysis. Next Conrad walked to the ALSEP to inspect one of the instruments, his footsteps picked up by the seismometer they deployed during EVA1. Both then headed toward Head Crater to the west of <em>Intrepid<\/em>, where Conrad rolled two rocks down into the crater, the vibrations caused by this action captured by the seismometer. On the way to their next station, Bench Crater, they stopped briefly to photograph Triplet Craters, a series of three craters making a 90-foot formation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"235\" height=\"237\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva2_head_crater_polarized_photo_as12-49-7179hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva2_head_crater_polarized_photo\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"236\" height=\"236\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva2_trench_at_head_crater_as12-48-7051hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva2_trench_at_head_crater\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"236\" height=\"237\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva2_triplet_crater_as12-48-7057hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva2_triplet_crater\"><br><em>Images from EVA2. Left: Looking into Head Crater. Middle: A trench the astronauts dug to expose subsurface material. Right: Bean\u2019s shadow in Triplet Craters.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At Bench Crater, they collected several documented samples, often preceded with expressions like \u201cOooooh!\u201d and \u201cThat\u2019s a beauty!\u201d and dug a trench to expose subsurface material. Conrad declined a request from Gibson to climb down into the crater to collect some bedrock samples as he considered the side too steep for safety. From Bench Crater they walked to the 36-foot wide Sharp Crater, the westernmost stop on their traverse. They dug a trench and collected a sample from about eight inches deep and placed it inside a Special Environmental Sample Container (SESC) that kept the sample in a pristine vacuum condition until opened in the Lunar Receiving Lab (LRL) in Houston after the mission. They also collected a core sample from inside the trench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"351\" height=\"198\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva2_bench_crater_pan_a12pan7223-28emj.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva2_bench_crater_pan\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"197\" height=\"198\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva2_sharp_crater_as12-49-7264hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva2_sharp_crater\"><br><em>Left: Panoramic composite of Bench Crater. Right: Conrad on the edge of steep-rimmed Sharp Crater.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Skirting south of Bench Crater, the duo jogged 700 feet east toward Halo Crater, another 36-foot feature near the southwestern rim of Surveyor Crater. Bean took another core sample near Halo Crater, using a hammer to drive it home. And like two tourists on vacation, Conrad and Bean posed for pictures of each other. From there, they set off toward the main objective of EVA2, Surveyor 3 resting on the inner slope of 600-foot wide Surveyor Crater. Entering the crater from the south rim, they walked counterclockwise while descending down the slope until they reached the robotic spacecraft. After taking \u201ctourist\u201d pictures with Surveyor, the two photographed the craft from all angles, noting that the trenches left by its scoop and the marks from its footpads when it bounced after landing looked as fresh as when Surveyor photographed them in 1967. Using cutters, Conrad removed the craft\u2019s camera, scoop, and other parts for stowage in <em>Intrepid<\/em> and return to Earth where engineers and scientists examined them for the effects of 31 months in the harsh lunar environment. The work at Surveyor completed, the two continued their counterclockwise trek around the crater back toward <em>Intrepid<\/em>, making a stop at the 30-foot wide Block Crater along the way to collect one more sample that likely included lunar bedrock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"215\" height=\"219\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva2_bean_holding_sesc_as12-49-7278hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva2_bean_holding_sesc\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"215\" height=\"218\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva2_trench_and_core_at_sharp_crater_as12-48-7068hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva2_trench_and_core_at_sharp_crater\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"218\" height=\"219\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva2_conrad_tourist_picture_near_halo_crater_as12-48-7071hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva2_conrad_tourist_picture_near_halo_crater\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"218\" height=\"219\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva2_bean_tourist_picture_near_halo_crater_as12-49-7281hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva2_bean_tourist_picture_near_halo_crater\"><br><em>Left: Bean holding the SESC, with Conrad reflected in his visor, near Sharp Crater. Middle left: Core sample taken inside the trench near Sharp Crater. Middle right and right: \u201cTourist\u201d pictures of Conrad (with <\/em>Intrepid<em> in the far distance) and Bean taken near Halo Crater.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"216\" height=\"218\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva2_bean_core_sample_at_halo_crater_as12-49-7286hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva2_bean_core_sample_at_halo_crater\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"214\" height=\"216\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva2_conrad_at_surveyor_3_as12-48-7133hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva2_conrad_at_surveyor_3\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"211\" height=\"215\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva2_bean_w_surveyor_3_as12-48-7135hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva2_bean_w_surveyor_3\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"213\" height=\"215\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva2_block_crater_w_surveyor_3_and_astro_tracks_in_background_as12-48-7145hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva2_block_crater_w_surveyor_3_and_astro_tracks_in_background\"><br><em>Left: Bean hammering a core sample near Halo Crater. Middle left: Conrad with Surveyor 3. Middle right: Bean posing with Surveyor 3. Right: Block Crater, with Surveyor 3 and the astronauts\u2019 tracks along the rim of Surveyor Crater in the background.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Conrad jogged ahead back to <em>Intrepid<\/em> to prepare the second SRC to load the rocks and other samples as Bean followed behind and helped transfer the samples. At one point, Conrad realized he was trying to blow dust off the SRC, forgetting he was wearing a helmet!  Bean walked off to retrieve the SWC experiment, encountering some difficulties in rolling it back up. Compared with a short 77-minute exposure during Apollo 11, this SWC collected samples of the solar wind for nearly 19 hours. With everything packed up, Bean headed up the ladder, with a mostly unsuccessful attempt by Conrad to brush off some of the clinging lunar dust. As they did at the end of EVA1, Conrad passed all the equipment that was destined to return with them up to Bean, and soon after he climbed the ladder too. After closing the hatch, they repressurized <em>Intrepid<\/em>, ending the 3-hour 49-minute EVA2. After removing their EVA gloves and PLSS backpacks, they depressurized the cabin and threw them out the hatch, with the seismometer registering their impacts with the ground. They repressurized <em>Intrepid<\/em> one last time and began to clean up the cabin. With some extra time and some film left over, they took photographs out the window, and then began to prepare for the liftoff to rendezvous with Gordon in <em>Yankee Clipper<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"205\" height=\"208\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_eva2_conrad_back_at_intrepid_as12-48-7152hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_eva2_conrad_back_at_intrepid\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"202\" height=\"206\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_post_eva2_from_cdr_window_as12-48-7154hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_post_eva2_from_cdr_window\"> <img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"204\" height=\"207\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_post_eva2_from_lmp_window_as12-48-7163hr.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_post_eva2_from_lmp_window\"><br><em>Left: Conrad back at <\/em>Intrepid<em> near the end of EVA2. Middle: Post EVA2 view from inside <\/em>Intrepid <em>through Conrad\u2019s window. Right: Post EVA2 view from inside <\/em>Intrepid<em> through Bean\u2019s window.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"471\" height=\"353\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_landing_site_from_lro.jpg\" alt=\"apollo_12_landing_site_from_lro\"><br><em>Apollo 12 landing site in Ocean of Storms photographed by Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter in 2011.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>To be continued\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shortly after re-emerging from the backside of the Moon after entering lunar orbit, the Apollo 12 astronauts turned on their color TV camera and treated viewers on the ground to a 33-minute guided tour of the surface as they made their first pass across the Moon\u2019s front side. Commander Charles \u201cPete\u201d Conrad, Command Module Pilot [...]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":74,"featured_media":173264,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2671,2930],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[12664,11995],"coauthors":[11996],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"50 Years Ago: Apollo 12 on the Moon \u2013 \u201cWhoopee!!\u201d","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-apollo-12-on-the-moon-whoopee\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-apollo-12-on-the-moon-whoopee\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_tv-4_rev_1_crater_eratosthenes_nov_17_1969_s69-58568.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_tv-4_rev_1_crater_eratosthenes_nov_17_1969_s69-58568.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA History","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"John Uri"}],"creator":["John Uri"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["Missions","Apollo","Apollo 12","NASA History"],"dateCreated":"2019-11-18T19:33:00Z","datePublished":"2019-11-18T19:33:00Z","dateModified":"2023-09-13T18:48:23Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"50 Years Ago: Apollo 12 on the Moon \u2013 \u201cWhoopee!!\u201d\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/50-years-ago-apollo-12-on-the-moon-whoopee\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"post\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_tv-4_rev_1_crater_eratosthenes_nov_17_1969_s69-58568.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2019-11-18T19:33:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA History\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"Missions,Apollo,Apollo 12,NASA History\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"John Uri\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":15,"time_ago":"5 years","featured_image":{"id":173264,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/apollo_12_tv-4_rev_1_crater_eratosthenes_nov_17_1969_s69-58568.jpg","title":"S69-58568 001","alt":"apollo_12_tv-4_rev_1_crater_eratosthenes_nov_17_1969","caption":"S69-58568 001"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168430"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/74"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=168430"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168430\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":507414,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/168430\/revisions\/507414"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/173264"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=168430"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=168430"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=168430"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=168430"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=168430"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}