Apollo 12 was the Apollo mission struck by lightning twice shortly after launch.
The Saturn V lifted Apollo 12 from Kennedy Space Center on November 14, 1969. Lightning strikes occurred during the ascent, temporarily disrupting spacecraft electrical systems and causing warning lights to appear. Mission controllers and the crew worked through the problem, and the spacecraft continued toward the Moon.
The crisis led flight controller John Aaron to recommend switching the spacecraft’s signal-conditioning equipment to a backup setting. This restored important instrument displays and helped preserve the mission. Apollo 12 then completed its flight to the Moon and made a precise landing near the Surveyor 3 probe.
The incident demonstrated the value of experienced flight controllers and backup systems. It is sometimes confused with Apollo 13’s later oxygen-tank accident, which happened en route to the Moon and was not caused by lightning.