| Scientific Exploration Detailed scientific exploration began with the flight of Apollo 12, Nov. 14-24, 1969. Comdr. Pete Conrad, Jr., and Comdr. Alan L. Bean landed (on Nov. 19) in the Lunar Module Intrepid in Oceanus Procellarum (Ocean of Storms), while Comdr. Richard F. Gordon, Jr., cruised in orbit in the CSM Yankee Clipper. Conrad and Bean made two sorties of extravehicular activity (or EVA) on the surface, totaling 7 hours and 50 minutes. They unpacked the first Apollo Lunar Scientific Package (ALSEP), consisting of an array of scientific instruments, on the first EVA. On the second, they hiked almost a kilometer (a half mile) to inspect the Surveyor 3 spacecraft, and took 11 kg (25 lb) of its parts for analysis of the effect of the lunar environment on metal and glass. They brought back 33.9 kg (74.7 lb) of rocks and soil. Two days after Apollo 13 was launched on Apr. 11, 1970, an oxygen tank exploded in the Service Module and crippled the vessel's power and life-support systems so badly that a planned landing in the Fra Mauro formation of the Moon was canceled. Navy Capt. James A. Lovell, Jr., and civilians Fred W. Haise, Jr., and John L. Swigert, Jr., used the descent... |
