The Apollo 12 Lightning Strike

In 1969, during the launch of Apollo 12, the spacecraft was struck by lightning—twice—just moments after takeoff! The strike knocked out all power and communication with mission control, and it seemed like the mission was doomed before it even left Earth’s atmosphere. However, astronaut John Aaron, working in mission control, remembered a little-known system reset code and instructed the crew to use it. His quick thinking restored power, and Apollo 12 went on to successfully land on the moon. This lesser-known space drama is a testament to the cool heads and ingenuity that kept space exploration on track.