Although Apollo 6 did not reach full translunar velocities in either direction , it was considered successful enough to fly astronauts on the next Saturn V , which in addition was tasked to send them to the Moon ( lunar orbit ) instead of the previously-planned Earth orbit for Apollo 8 the following December .
Although Apollo 6 did not reach the speeds in either direction , it was considered successful enough to fly astronauts on the next Saturn V . This would orbit the Moon instead of the planned Earth orbit for Apollo 8 .