{"id":130209,"date":"2009-07-08T16:26:00","date_gmt":"2009-07-08T20:26:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-415571"},"modified":"2023-12-14T17:58:36","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T22:58:36","slug":"apollo-8-mission-details","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/apollo\/apollo-8-mission-details\/","title":{"rendered":"Apollo 8: Mission Details"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div style=\"height:77px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Mission Objective<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The mission objectives for Apollo 8 included a coordinated performance of the crew, the command and service module, or CSM, and the support facilities. The mission also was to demonstrate translunar injection; CSM navigation, communications and midcourse corrections; consumable assessment; and passive thermal control. The detailed test objectives were to refine the systems and procedures relating to future lunar operations.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All primary mission objectives and detailed test objectives were achieved. All launch vehicle and spacecraft systems performed according to plan. Engineering accomplishments included use of the ground network with onboard navigational techniques to sharpen the accuracy of lunar orbit determination and the successful use of Apollo high-gain antenna\u2014a four-dish unified S-band antenna that deployed from the service module, or SM, after separation from the third stage.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\"><div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\"><div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-none \"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/s68-51093.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/s68-51093.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Apollo 8 official mission patch\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/s68-51093.jpg 6187w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/s68-51093.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/s68-51093.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/s68-51093.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/s68-51093.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/s68-51093.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/s68-51093.jpg?resize=2048,2048 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/s68-51093.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/s68-51093.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/s68-51093.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/s68-51093.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/s68-51093.jpg?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/s68-51093.jpg?resize=900,900 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/s68-51093.jpg?resize=1200,1200 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/s68-51093.jpg?resize=2000,2000 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">Apollo 8 mission patch<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Mission Highlights<\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Apollo 8 launched from Cape Kennedy on Dec. 21, 1968, placing astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell Jr. and William Anders into a 114 by 118 mile parking orbit at 32.6 degrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the second revolution, at two hours, 50 minutes ground elapsed time, the S-IVB third stage restarted for a five-minute, 17-second burn, initiating translunar coast. Following S-IVB\/CSM separation at three hours, 21 minutes, a 1.5 feet per second radial burn of the SM reaction control engines was initiated to establish sufficient distance for S-IVB propellant dumping. Following the propellant dumping, which sent the stage into diverging trajectory and solar orbit, the separation distance still was deemed inadequate and a second SM reaction control burn of 7.7 feet per second was performed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first midcourse correction occured at about 10 hours, 55 minutes into the mission and provided a first check on the service propulsion system, or SPS, engine prior to committing spacecraft to lunar orbit insertion. The second and final midcourse correction prior to lunar orbit insertion occurred at 61 hours, 8 minutes, 54 seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Loss of signal occurred at 68 hours, 58 minutes, 45 seconds when Apollo 8 passed behind the moon. At that moment, NASA\u2019s three astronauts became the first humans to see the moon\u2019s far side. The first lunar orbit insertion burn, at 69 hours, 8 minutes, 52 seconds, lasted four minutes, two seconds and reduced the spacecraft\u2019s 8,400 feet per second velocity by 2,994 feet per second, resulting in an initial lunar orbit of 70 by 193 miles. The orbit circularized at 70 miles by the second lunar orbit insertion burn of 135 feet per second, performed at the start of the third revolution, again on the back side of the moon, at 73 hours, 35 minutes, five seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During the 20-hour period in lunar orbit, the crew conducted a full, sleepless schedule of tasks including landmark and landing site tracking, vertical stereo photography, stereo navigation photography and sextant navigation. At the end of the 10th lunar orbit, at 89 hours, 19 minutes, and 16 seconds, a three-minute, 23-second trans-Earth injection burn was conducted, adding 3,522 feet per second. Only one midcourse correction, a burn of five feet per second conducted at 104 hours, was required instead of the three scheduled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Six telecasts were conducted during the mission: two during translunar coast, two during lunar orbit and two during trans-Earth coast. These transmissions were telecast worldwide and in real time to all five continents. During a telecast on Christmas Eve, the crew read verses from the first chapter of Genesis and wished viewers, \u201cGood night, good luck, a Merry Christmas and God bless all of you \u2013 all of you on the good Earth.\u201d All telecasts were of excellent quality. Voice communications also were exceptionally good throughout the mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Separation of the command module, or CM, from the SM occurred at 146 hours, 31 minutes. A double-skip maneuver conducted during the re-entry steering phase resulted in an altitude gain of 25,000 to 30,000 feet. The re-entry velocity was 24,696 mph, with heatshield temperatures reaching 5,000 degrees F. Parachute deployment and other re-entry events were nominal. Apollo 8 splashed down in the Pacific Ocean at 10:51 a.m. EST Dec. 27. The splashdown was about 5,100 yards from the recovery ship USS Yorktown, 147 hours after launch and precisely on time. According to prior planning, helicopters and aircraft hovered over the spacecraft, and pararescue personnel were not deployed until local sunrise, 50 minutes after splashdown. The Apollo 8 crew reached the recovery ship at 12:20 p.m. EST.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Crew<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-frank-borman\/\" data-type=\"topic\" data-id=\"300263\">Frank Borman<\/a>, Commander<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-william-a-anders\/\" data-type=\"topic\" data-id=\"294250\">William A. Anders<\/a>, Lunar Module Pilot<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-james-a-lovell\/\" data-type=\"topic\" data-id=\"258449\">James A. Lovell Jr.<\/a>, Command Module Pilot<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Backup Crew<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-neil-a-armstrong\/\" data-type=\"topic\" data-id=\"338540\">Neil Armstrong<\/a>, Commander<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-fred-haise\/\" data-type=\"topic\" data-id=\"300631\">Fred W. Haise Jr.<\/a>, Lunar Module Pilot<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/former-astronaut-edwin-buzz-aldrin\/\" data-type=\"topic\" data-id=\"257514\">Edwin E. Aldrin Jr.<\/a>, Command Module Pilot<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Payload<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>CSM-103<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Prelaunch Milestones<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>12\/24\/67 \u2013 S-II stage ondock at Kennedy<br>12\/27\/67 \u2013 S-IC stage ondock at Kennedy<br>12\/30\/67 \u2013 S-IVB ondock at Kennedy<br>1\/4\/68 \u2013 S-IU ondock at Kennedy<br>8\/14\/68 \u2013 launch vehicle at pad<br>10\/17\/68 \u2013 spacecraft at Pad<br>12\/11\/68 \u2013 Countdown Demonstration Test<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Launch<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Dec. 21, 1968; 7:51 a.m. EST<br>Launch Pad 39A<br>Saturn-V AS-503<br>High Bay 1<br>Mobile Launcher Platform-1<br>Firing Room 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Orbit<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Altitude: 118.82 miles<br>Inclination: 32.509 degrees<br>Orbits: 10 revolutions<br>Duration: six days, three hours, 42 seconds<br>Distance: 579,606.9 miles<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b>Landing<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Dec. 27, 1968; 10:52 a.m. EST<br>Pacific Ocean<br>Recovery Ship: USS Yorktown<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 article_a hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-credits-and-details\">\n<section class=\"padding-x-0 padding-top-5 padding-bottom-2 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-2 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Share<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"social-icons social-icons-round\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-x\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/intent\/tweet?via=NASA&text=Apollo%208%3A%20Mission%20Details&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fmissions%2Fapollo%2Fapollo-8-mission-details%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on X.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"1200\" height=\"1227\" viewBox=\"0 0 1200 1227\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M714.163 519.284L1160.89 0H1055.03L667.137 450.887L357.328 0H0L468.492 681.821L0 1226.37H105.866L515.491 750.218L842.672 1226.37H1200L714.137 519.284H714.163ZM569.165 687.828L521.697 619.934L144.011 79.6944H306.615L611.412 515.685L658.88 583.579L1055.08 1150.3H892.476L569.165 687.854V687.828Z\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"social-icon social-icon-facebook\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nasa.gov%2Fmissions%2Fapollo%2Fapollo-8-mission-details%2F\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg 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social-icon-rss\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"\/feed\/\" aria-label=\"Subscribe to RSS feed.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 800 800\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path d=\"M493 652H392c0-134-111-244-244-244V307c189 0 345 156 345 345zm71 0c0-228-188-416-416-416V132c285 0 520 235 520 520z\"\/><circle cx=\"219\" cy=\"581\" r=\"71\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-14\">Details<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading\">Last Updated<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-8\">Dec 14, 2023<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-5 padding-right-4 margin-bottom-5 desktop:margin-bottom-0\"><div class=\"padding-top-3 border-top-1px border-color-carbon-black \"><div class=\"margin-bottom-2\"><h2 class=\"heading-14\">Related Terms<\/h2><\/div><ul class=\"article-tags\"><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/the-apollo-program\/\">Apollo<\/a><\/li><li class=\"article-tag\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/apollo-8\/\">Apollo 8<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full width-full maxw-full padding-x-3 padding-y-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-related-articles\">\t\t<section class=\"hds-related-articles padding-x-0 padding-y-3 desktop:padding-top-7 desktop:padding-bottom-9\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"w-100 grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0 text-align-left\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-4\"><h2 style=\"max-width: 100%;\" class=\"width-full w-full maxw-full\">Explore More<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container maxw-widescreen padding-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/apollo\/apollo-8-christmas-at-the-moon\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"234\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/apollo_8_earthrise_1968_as08-14-2383.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/apollo_8_earthrise_1968_as08-14-2383.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/apollo_8_earthrise_1968_as08-14-2383.jpg?resize=300,234 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/apollo_8_earthrise_1968_as08-14-2383.jpg?resize=768,600 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/apollo_8_earthrise_1968_as08-14-2383.jpg?resize=1024,800 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/apollo_8_earthrise_1968_as08-14-2383.jpg?resize=400,312 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/apollo_8_earthrise_1968_as08-14-2383.jpg?resize=600,469 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/apollo_8_earthrise_1968_as08-14-2383.jpg?resize=900,703 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">4 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Apollo 8: Christmas at the Moon<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t4 years ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/history\/dec-27-1968-apollo-8-returns-from-the-moon\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1338\" src=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S68-56532\/S68-56532~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1338&fit=clip&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S68-56532\/S68-56532~large.jpg?w=1920&h=1338&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1920w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S68-56532\/S68-56532~large.jpg?w=300&h=209&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 300w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S68-56532\/S68-56532~large.jpg?w=768&h=535&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 768w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S68-56532\/S68-56532~large.jpg?w=1024&h=714&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1024w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S68-56532\/S68-56532~large.jpg?w=1536&h=1070&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1536w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S68-56532\/S68-56532~large.jpg?w=400&h=279&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 400w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S68-56532\/S68-56532~large.jpg?w=600&h=418&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 600w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S68-56532\/S68-56532~large.jpg?w=900&h=627&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 900w, https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/S68-56532\/S68-56532~large.jpg?w=1200&h=836&fit=crop&crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">6 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">Dec. 27, 1968: Apollo 8 Returns from the Moon<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5 years ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0 desktop:padding-right-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/centers-and-facilities\/kennedy\/a-bold-step-apollo-8-sends-first-human-flight-beyond-earth\/\" class=\"color-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black minh-mobile\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"236\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/2a-presentation24.jpg?w=300\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/2a-presentation24.jpg 4475w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/2a-presentation24.jpg?resize=300,236 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/2a-presentation24.jpg?resize=768,605 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/2a-presentation24.jpg?resize=1024,807 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/2a-presentation24.jpg?resize=1536,1210 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/2a-presentation24.jpg?resize=2048,1613 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/2a-presentation24.jpg?resize=400,315 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/2a-presentation24.jpg?resize=600,473 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/2a-presentation24.jpg?resize=900,709 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/2a-presentation24.jpg?resize=1200,945 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/2a-presentation24.jpg?resize=2000,1575 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"padding-right-0 desktop:padding-right-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"subheading margin-bottom-1\">6 min read<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\"><h3 class=\"related-article-title\">A Bold Step: Apollo 8 Sends First Human Flight Beyond Earth<\/h3><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label related-article-label margin-bottom-1 color-carbon-60\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" class=\"square-2 margin-right-1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"16px\" height=\"16px\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" style=\"enable-background:new 0 0 16 16;\" xml:space=\"preserve\"><g><g><path d=\"M8,0C3.5,0-0.1,3.7,0,8.2C0.1,12.5,3.6,16,8,16c4.4,0,8-3.6,8-8C16,3.5,12.4,0,8,0z M8,15.2 C4,15.2,0.8,12,0.8,8C0.8,4,4,0.8,8,0.8c3.9,0,7.2,3.2,7.2,7.1C15.2,11.9,12,15.2,8,15.2z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6,12c0.8-0.8,1.6-1.6,2.4-2.4c0.8,0.8,1.6,1.6,2.4,2.4c0-2.7,0-5.3,0-8C8.8,4,7.2,4,5.6,4 C5.6,6.7,5.6,9.3,5.6,12z\"\/><\/g><\/g><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t5 years ago\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201c\u2018Round the moon and back\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":438433,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"254332","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":["130213","168466","70227"],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[2713,2934],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[],"coauthors":[3854],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Apollo 8: Mission 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