Apollo 8

Apollo 8

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English: Apollo 8 was the second manned mission of the Apollo space program that was launched. They lifted off December 21st, 1968, and returned December, 28th. Commander Frank Borman, Command Module Pilot James Lovell and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders became the first humans to travel beyond Earth orbit and into an orbit around the Moon. It was also the first manned launch of the Saturn V rocket.

Radio transmissions

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Pictures

Crew images

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Preparations

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  S-IC first stage of the Apollo 8 Saturn V being erected
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  The 103 Apollo Command/Service Module is shown being mated to the Instrument Unit
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  Rollout to the launch pad of the Apollo 8 Saturn V on October 9, 1968.

Launch

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  The Apollo 8 crew leaves the Kennedy Space Center's Manned Spacecraft Operations Bldg during the Apollo 8 prelaunch countdown
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  The Apollo 8 Saturn V builds thrust after ignition of the S-IC first stage F-1 engines on December 21, 1968.
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  Apollo 8 liftoff

inflight

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  S-IVB stage separated from CSM
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  Earth during live tv transmission
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  Jim Lovell
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  William Anders

Lunar Orbit

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  Lunar Surface
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  Earthrise
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Reentry and recovery

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  Apollo 8 reentry
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  The crew of Apollo 8 leaves the recovery helicopter aboard the aircraft carrier Yorktown
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  Apollo 8 Command Module aboard USS Yorktown