As a field expert with a keen interest in space exploration history, I'd like to delve into the events surrounding the Apollo 12 mission. Apollo 12 was the sixth manned flight in the United States Apollo program and the second to land on the Moon. It was launched on November 14, 1969, from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, and was commanded by Charles "Pete" Conrad, with Alan L. Bean and Richard F. Gordon as the Lunar Module Pilot and Command Module Pilot, respectively.

The mission was indeed a precision landing, with the Lunar Module, named "Intrepid," touching down within a few hundred meters of the unmanned Surveyor 3 spacecraft, which had landed on the Moon two and a half years earlier. This was a significant achievement, demonstrating the accuracy of the Apollo navigation system and the capability of the mission to achieve a targeted lunar landing.

The mission faced a few challenges, including a lightning strike during the launch that caused some systems to reset but did not prevent the mission from continuing. Once on the lunar surface, the astronauts conducted two extravehrestrial activities, or moonwalks, collecting lunar samples and deploying scientific instruments. They also retrieved parts from the Surveyor 3, which were later analyzed back on Earth to study the effects of long-term exposure to the lunar environment.

One of the more memorable moments of the mission was when Alan Bean accidentally pointed a color television camera lens at the Sun, causing the camera to fail. This was a setback for the mission's ability to transmit live color footage to Earth, but the astronauts were able to relay their experiences and the lunar surface through photographs and later reports.

Apollo 12 was also notable for its scientific contributions. The astronauts collected 34 kilograms of lunar material, which included rocks and soil samples. These samples were analyzed and found to be similar to those from the Apollo 11 mission, providing further evidence of the Moon's geology.

In summary, Apollo 12 was a successful mission that overcame several obstacles and contributed significantly to our understanding of the Moon. It was a testament to the skill and resilience of the astronauts and the engineering prowess of the Apollo program.

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Apollo 12, the second manned mission to land on the Moon, was planned and executed as a precision landing. The astronauts landed the Lunar Module within walking distance of the Surveyor III spacecraft which had landed on the Moon in April of 1967.read more >>