THIS DATE IN WEATHER HISTORY

1969: Lightning impacts the launch of Apollo 12

Episode Details

Apollo 12 was the sixth crewed flight in the United States Apollo program and the second to land on the Moon. It was launched on November 14, 1969. Apollo 12 launched on schedule from Kennedy Space Center, under completely overcast rainy skies, encountering wind speeds of 174.6 mph during ascent, the highest of any Apollo mission. Lightning struck the Saturn V rocket 36.5 seconds after lift-off, triggered by the vehicle itself, discharging down to the Earth through the ionized exhaust plume.

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THIS DATE IN WEATHER HISTORY

1969: Lightning impacts the launch of Apollo 12

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