Mission record

Apollo 12

Also known as Yankee Clipper, Intrepid

NASA · Launched November 14, 1969

Completed · Success

NASA's Apollo 12 was a crewed mission to the Moon: the second crewed landing, which touched down near the Surveyor 3 spacecraft in Oceanus Procellarum.

Destinations: Moon Show Moon in the explorer
Launch vehicle: Saturn 5
Launch site: Launch Pad 39A, Kennedy Space Center
Countries: United States
Mission types: Crewed, Lander

Chronology

Mission timeline

November 14, 1969, 16:22:00 UTC
Launch
Apollo 12 launched
The Mission Report defines range zero as 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z and lists lift-off at GET 00:00:00.7; the resulting actual lift-off time is 16:22:00.7Z. Full GET chronology is retained in data/simulation/apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
Earth
November 14, 1969, 19:09:23 UTC
Departure
Translunar injection maneuver
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 02:47:23 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 14, 1969, 19:40:05 UTC
Milestone
Yankee Clipper separated from the S-IVB
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 03:18:05 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 14, 1969, 19:40:05 UTC
Milestone
Apollo 12 S-IVB separated from Yankee Clipper
The Mission Report lists CSM separation at GET 03:18:05. Adamo Table 31 gives the event at 19:40:05 GMT and the S-IVB nominal-state epoch at 19:40:04.9 GMT; the fractional-second epoch is retained with trajectory evidence.
Earth
November 14, 1969, 19:48:53 UTC
Milestone
Yankee Clipper docked with Intrepid
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 03:26:53 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 14, 1969, 20:35:01 UTC
Deployment
Docked spacecraft extracted from the launch stage
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 04:13:01 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 14, 1969, 20:48:41 UTC
Milestone
Launch-stage separation maneuver
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 04:26:41 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 15, 1969, 23:14:44 UTC
Milestone
First midcourse correction
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 30:52:44 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 18, 1969, 03:47:23 UTC
Orbit insertion
Lunar orbit insertion
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 83:25:23 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
Moon
November 18, 1969, 08:10:48 UTC
Milestone
Lunar orbit circularization
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 87:48:48 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 19, 1969, 04:16:02 UTC
Milestone
Intrepid undocked
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 107:54:02 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 19, 1969, 04:46:37 UTC
Milestone
First spacecraft separation maneuver
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 108:24:37 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 19, 1969, 05:45:40 UTC
Milestone
Descent orbit insertion
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 109:23:40 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 19, 1969, 06:42:38 UTC
Milestone
Powered descent began
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 110:20:38 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 19, 1969, 06:54:36 UTC
Landing
Intrepid landed on the Moon
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 110:32:36 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
Moon
November 19, 1969, 11:32:35 UTC
Milestone
First lunar excursion egress
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 115:10:35 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 19, 1969, 15:28:38 UTC
Milestone
First lunar excursion ingress
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 119:06:38 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 19, 1969, 16:09:13 UTC
Milestone
First lunar orbit plane change
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 119:47:13 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 20, 1969, 03:54:45 UTC
Milestone
Second lunar excursion egress
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 131:32:45 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 20, 1969, 07:44:00 UTC
Milestone
Second lunar excursion ingress
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 135:22:00 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 20, 1969, 14:25:48 UTC
Departure
Intrepid ascent stage lifted off
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 142:03:48 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
Moon
November 20, 1969, 15:23:51 UTC
Milestone
Coelliptic sequence initiation
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 143:01:51 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 20, 1969, 16:22:03 UTC
Milestone
Constant differential height maneuver
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 144:00:03 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 20, 1969, 16:58:26 UTC
Milestone
Terminal rendezvous phase began
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 144:36:26 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 20, 1969, 17:58:20 UTC
Milestone
Intrepid ascent stage redocked
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 145:36:20 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 20, 1969, 20:21:32 UTC
Milestone
Intrepid ascent stage jettisoned
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 147:59:32 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 20, 1969, 20:26:31 UTC
Milestone
Second spacecraft separation maneuver
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 148:04:31 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 20, 1969, 21:50:15 UTC
Milestone
Intrepid ascent-stage deorbit maneuver
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 149:28:15 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 20, 1969, 22:17:16 UTC
Impact
Intrepid ascent stage impacted the Moon
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 149:55:16 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
Moon
November 21, 1969, 07:26:46 UTC
Milestone
Second lunar orbit plane change
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 159:04:46 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 21, 1969, 20:49:17 UTC
Departure
Transearth injection maneuver
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 172:27:17 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 22, 1969, 12:49:16 UTC
Milestone
Second midcourse correction
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 188:27:16 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 24, 1969, 17:44:00 UTC
Milestone
Third midcourse correction
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 241:22:00 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 24, 1969, 20:29:20 UTC
Milestone
Command module separated from service module
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 244:07:20 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
November 24, 1969, 20:44:19 UTC
Milestone
Entry interface
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 244:22:19 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
Earth
November 24, 1969, 20:58:25 UTC
Landing
Apollo 12 splashed down
Original Table 5-I, physical PDF pages 91–92, elapsed time 244:36:25 after 1969-11-14T16:22:00Z. Source fractional seconds and time convention are retained in apollo-h-lifecycle.json.
Earth

Mission architecture

Vehicles

Yankee Clipper · Spacecraft
Destinations: Moon
Intrepid · Lander
Destinations: Moon
Apollo 12 S-IVB-507 · Other

Trajectory record

Time-dependent navigation trajectory

Source states place the model at the selected time. Reconstructed flight, estimates, predictions and historical mission plans are identified by interval; gaps remain visible.

J2000 · Sun-centered display · positions interpolated between source states

Coverage: November 14, 1969 to December 6, 1969

Source records and sampling assumptions are retained with the repository data. Model attitude and surface appearance are illustrative.

Apollo 12 S-IVB-507: Reconstructed · November 14, 1969 to December 6, 1969

Provenance

Sources

Each source is listed once and labeled with the mission, event, trajectory, or destination/body context it supports.

Data verified through September 13, 2026

Apollo 12 Command and Service Module - NASA NSSDCA Spacecraft Details — NSSDCAArchive · Supports: mission claims
Apollo 12 Lunar Module - NASA NSSDCA Spacecraft Details — NSSDCAArchive · Supports: mission claims
Apollo 12 Mission Report — NASATechnical document · Supports: mission claims · event claims
LROC Science Operations Team: Coordinates of Lunar Anthropogenic Targets (28 July 2016) — NASATechnical document · Supports: mission claims
Earth Departure Trajectory Reconstruction of Apollo Program Components Undergoing Disposal in Interplanetary Space — OTHERPaper · Supports: mission claims · event claims
Apollo 12: The Pinpoint Mission — NASAMission page · Supports: mission claims · event claims
DE421 lunar mean-Earth and principal-axes frame specification — NAIFTechnical document · Supports: destination/body context
DE440 lunar mean-Earth and principal-axes frame specification — NAIFSpice · Supports: destination/body context
IAU rotational elements and body radii (PCK 00011) — NAIFSpice · Supports: destination/body context
LOLA global lunar height maps, LDEM_4 V3 original PDS source label — NASATechnical document · Supports: destination/body context
LOLA 2023 south-polar elevation, uncertainty and effective-resolution maps — NASATechnical document · Supports: destination/body context
Blue Ghost Lunar Lander Seen From Above: LROC site and terrain context — NASATechnical document · Supports: destination/body context
Moon Facts — NASAOther · Supports: destination/body context
SLDEM2015 Blue Ghost region: original PDS elevation-grid label — NASATechnical document · Supports: destination/body context
JPL Solar System Dynamics Astrodynamic Parameters — JPLOther · Supports: destination/body context
Planet Sizes and Locations in Our Solar System — NASAOther · Supports: destination/body context

Mission timeline

Apollo 12 launched

Translunar injection maneuver

Yankee Clipper separated from the S-IVB

Apollo 12 S-IVB separated from Yankee Clipper

Yankee Clipper docked with Intrepid

Docked spacecraft extracted from the launch stage

Launch-stage separation maneuver

First midcourse correction

Lunar orbit insertion

Lunar orbit circularization

Intrepid undocked

First spacecraft separation maneuver

Descent orbit insertion

Powered descent began

Intrepid landed on the Moon

First lunar excursion egress

First lunar excursion ingress

First lunar orbit plane change

Second lunar excursion egress

Second lunar excursion ingress

Intrepid ascent stage lifted off

Coelliptic sequence initiation

Constant differential height maneuver

Terminal rendezvous phase began

Intrepid ascent stage redocked

Intrepid ascent stage jettisoned

Second spacecraft separation maneuver

Intrepid ascent-stage deorbit maneuver

Intrepid ascent stage impacted the Moon

Second lunar orbit plane change

Transearth injection maneuver

Second midcourse correction

Third midcourse correction

Command module separated from service module

Entry interface

Apollo 12 splashed down

Vehicles

Time-dependent navigation trajectory

Sources