The Apollo 12 Lightning Incident - Fifty Years of Advancing the State of the Art

Explore the fascinating Apollo 12 lightning incident in this 32-minute AGU conference talk. Delve into the critical moments after lift-off on November 14, 1969, when the Apollo 12 vehicle triggered two lightning flashes, causing significant system upsets. Learn about the quick actions that saved the mission and the extensive research it sparked. Discover the evolution of launch safety practices, including detection and avoidance of potentially hazardous cloud electrical conditions. Gain insights into current best practices and ongoing research needs for maximizing launch safety and availability. Examine topics such as weather forecasting, hazard assessment, circuit breaker systems, NASA's response, and the development of weather avoidance criteria. Understand the complexities of rocket-triggered lightning, atmospheric electricity, and the importance of particle concentration habits in low reflectivity conditions. Explore how this incident has shaped launch rules and safety protocols over the past fifty years.