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Earthrise
Apollo 8, the first manned m
12/24/08
| Description |
Apollo 8, the first manned mission to the moon, entered lunar orbit on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 1968. That evening, the astronauts--Commander Frank Borman, Command Module Pilot Jim Lovell, and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders--held a live broadcast from lunar orbit, in which they showed pictures of the Earth and moon as seen from their spacecraft. Said Lovell, "The vast loneliness is awe-inspiring and it makes you realize just what you have back there on Earth." They ended the broadcast with the crew taking turns reading from the book of Genesis. Visit the Apollo 8 page for audio and video of the historic mission. Image Credit: NASA |
| Date |
12/24/08 |
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Earthrise - Apollo 8
| title |
Earthrise - Apollo 8 |
| date |
12.29.1968 |
| description |
This view of the rising Earth greeted the Apollo 8 astronauts as they came from behind the Moon after the lunar orbit insertion burn. Earth is about five degrees above the horizon in the photo. The unnamed surface features in the foreground are near the eastern limb of the Moon as viewed from Earth. The lunar horizon is approximately 780 kilometers from the spacecraft. Width of the photographed area at the horizon is about 175 km (109 miles). On the Earth 386,000 km (240,000 miles) away, the sunset terminator bisects Africa. *Image Credit*: NASA |
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Crater Tsiolkovsky
| Title |
Crater Tsiolkovsky |
| Full Description |
This is a view of the large crater Tsiolkovsky as photographed by the astronauts during the Apollo 8 lunar orbit mission, looking East toward the lunar horizon. Tsiolkovsky is approximately 150 statute miles in diameter. It was first identified and named by the Russians from photographs taken by their unmanned Luna III spacecraft. |
| Date |
12/24/1968 |
| NASA Center |
Johnson Space Center |
|
Earth from Apollo 8
| Title |
Earth from Apollo 8 |
| Full Description |
This is how the Earth looked as photographed from a point near the Moon by the Apollo 8 astronauts. The Earth fills less than one percent of the frame exposed through 80mm lens. North is approximately vertical. Kinda lonely, isn't it? |
| Date |
12/01/1968 |
| NASA Center |
Johnson Space Center |
|
Earthrise - Apollo 8
| Title |
Earthrise - Apollo 8 |
| Full Description |
This view of the rising Earth greeted the Apollo 8 astronauts as they came from behind the Moon after the lunar orbit insertion burn. The photo is displayed here in its original orientation, though it is more commonly viewed with the lunar surface at the bottom of the photo. Earth is about five degrees left of the horizon in the photo. The unnamed surface features on the left are near the eastern limb of the Moon as viewed from Earth. The lunar horizon is approximately 780 kilometers from the spacecraft. Height of the photographed area at the lunar horizon is about 175 kilometers. |
| Date |
12/29/1968 |
| NASA Center |
Headquarters |
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The Lunar Farside
| Title |
The Lunar Farside |
| Full Description |
View of the lunar surface taken from the Apollo 8 spacecraft looking southward from high altitude across the Southern Sea. The bright-rayed crater near the horizon is located near 130 degrees east longitude and 70 degrees south latitude. The dark floored crater near the middle of the right side of the photograph is about 70 kilometers (45 statute miles) in diameter. Both features are beyond the eastern limb of the Moon as viewed from earth, neither has a name. |
| Date |
12/24/1968 |
| NASA Center |
Johnson Space Center |
|
Saturn V S-IVB (Third) Stage
| Name of Image |
Saturn V S-IVB (Third) Stage |
| Date of Image |
1967-01-01 |
| Full Description |
After the S-II (second) stage dropped away, the S-IVB (third) stage ignited and burned for about two minutes to place itself and the Apollo spacecraft into the desired Earth orbit. At the proper time during this Earth parking orbit, the S-IVB stage was re-ignited to speed the Apollo spacecraft to escape velocity, injecting it and the astronauts into a moon trajectory. Developed and manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Huntington, California, the S-IVB stage measures about 21.5 feet in diameter, about 58 feet in length and is powered by a single 200,000-pound-thrust J-2 engine with a re-start capability. The S-IVB stage was also used on the second stage of the Saturn IB launch vehicle. The fully-assembled S-IVB (third) stage for the AS-503 (Apollo 8 mission) launch vehicle is pictured in the Douglas' vertical checkout building. |
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Apollo 8 Launch
| Name of Image |
Apollo 8 Launch |
| Date of Image |
1968-12-21 |
| Full Description |
The third Saturn V launch vehicle (SA-503) for the Apollo 8 mission lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on December 21, 1968. The first manned Saturn V vehicle with a crew of three astronauts, Frank Borman, James A. Lovell, Jr., and William Anders, escaped Earth's gravity, traveled to the lunar vicinity, and orbited the Moon. |
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Apollo 11 Astronauts Review
| Name of Image |
Apollo 11 Astronauts Review Lunar Charts During Breakfast |
| Date of Image |
1969-07-16 |
| Full Description |
Chief astronaut and director of flight crew operations, Donald K. Slayton (right front) reviews lunar charts with Apollo 11 astronauts Michael Collins (left), Neil Armstrong, and Edwin Aldrin (next to Slayton) during breakfast a short time before the three men launched for the first Moon landing mission. Sharing breakfast with the crew was William Anders (left rear), Lunar Module pilot for the Apollo 8 lunar orbit mission. The Apollo 11 mission launched from the NASA Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida via the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) developed Saturn V launch vehicle on July 16, 1969 and safely returned to Earth on July 24, 1969. The CM, ?Columbia?, piloted by Collins, remained in a parking orbit around the Moon while the LM, ?Eagle??, carrying astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin, landed on the Moon. On July 20, 1969, Armstrong was the first human to ever stand on the lunar surface, followed by Aldrin. During 2½ hours of surface exploration, the crew collected 47 pounds of lunar surface material for analysis back on Earth. With the success of Apollo 11, the national objective to land men on the Moon and return them safely to Earth had been accomplished. |
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Montage of Apollo Crew Patch
| Name of Image |
Montage of Apollo Crew Patches |
| Date of Image |
1979-05-01 |
| Full Description |
This montage depicts the flight crew patches for the manned Apollo 7 thru Apollo 17 missions. The Apollo 7 through 10 missions were basically manned test flights that paved the way for lunar landing missions. Primary objectives met included the demonstration of the Command Service Module (CSM) crew performance, crew/space vehicle/mission support facilities performance and testing during a manned CSM mission, CSM rendezvous capability, translunar injection demonstration, the first manned Apollo docking, the first Apollo Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA), performance of the first manned flight of the lunar module (LM), the CSM-LM docking in translunar trajectory, LM undocking in lunar orbit, LM staging in lunar orbit, and manned LM-CSM docking in lunar orbit. Apollo 11 through 17 were lunar landing missions with the exception of Apollo 13 which was forced to circle the moon without landing due to an onboard explosion. The craft was,however, able to return to Earth safely. Apollo 11 was the first manned lunar landing mission and performed the first lunar surface EVA. Landing site was the Sea of Tranquility. A message for mankind was delivered, the U.S. flag was planted, experiments were set up and 47 pounds of lunar surface material was collected for analysis back on Earth. Apollo 12, the 2nd manned lunar landing mission landed in the Ocean of Storms and retrieved parts of the unmanned Surveyor 3, which had landed on the Moon in April 1967. The Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP) was deployed, and 75 pounds of lunar material was gathered. Apollo 14, the 3rd lunar landing mission landed in Fra Mauro. ALSEP and other instruments were deployed, and 94 pounds of lunar materials were gathered, using a hand cart for first time to transport rocks. Apollo 15, the 4th lunar landing mission landed in the Hadley-Apennine region. With the first use of the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV), the crew was bale to gather 169 pounds of lunar material. Apollo 16, the 5th lunar landing mission, landed in the Descartes Highlands for the first study of highlands area. Selected surface experiments were deployed, the ultraviolet camera/spectrograph was used for first time on the Moon, and the LRV was used for second time for a collection of 213 pounds of lunar material. The Apollo program came to a close with Apollo 17, the 6th and final manned lunar landing mission that landed in the Taurus-Littrow highlands and valley area. This mission hosted the first scientist-astronaut, Schmitt, to land on the Moon. The 6th automated research station was set up, and 243 ponds of lunar material was gathered using the LRV. |
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Astronaut James Lovell Offic
| Name of Image |
Astronaut James Lovell Official Portrait |
| Date of Image |
1966-09-09 |
| Full Description |
This is the official NASA portrait of astronaut James Lovell. Captain Lovell was selected as an Astronaut by NASA in September 1962. He has since served as backup pilot for the Gemini 4 flight and backup Commander for the Gemini 9 flight, as well as backup Commander to Neil Armstrong for the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission. On December 4, 1965, he and Frank Borman were launched into space on the history making Gemini 7 mission. The flight lasted 330 hours and 35 minutes and included the first rendezvous of two manned maneuverable spacecraft. The Gemini 12 mission, commanded by Lovell with Pilot Edwin Aldrin, began on November 11, 1966 for a 4-day, 59-revolution flight that brought the Gemini program to a successful close. Lovell served as Command Module Pilot and Navigator on the epic six-day journey of Apollo 8, the first manned Saturn V liftoff responsible for allowing the first humans to leave the gravitational influence of Earth. He completed his fourth mission as Spacecraft Commander of the Apollo 13 flight, April 11-17, 1970, and became the first man to journey twice to the moon. The Apollo 13 mission was cut short due to a failure of the Service Module cryogenic oxygen system. Aborting the lunar course, Lovell and fellow crewmen, John L. Swigert and Fred W. Haise, working closely with Houston ground controllers, converted their lunar module, Aquarius, into an effective lifeboat that got them safely back to Earth. Captain Lovell held the record for time in space with a total of 715 hours and 5 minutes until surpassed by the Skylab flights. On March 1, 1973, Captain Lovell retired from the Navy and the Space Program. |
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The Apollo 9 Astronauts
| Name of Image |
The Apollo 9 Astronauts |
| Date of Image |
1968-12-19 |
| Full Description |
Pictured from left to right, the Apollo 9 astronauts, James A. McDivitt, David R. Scott, and Russell L. Schweickart, pause in front of the Apollo/Saturn V space vehicle that would launch the Apollo 8 crew. The launch of the Apollo 9 (Saturn V launch vehicle, SA-504) took place on March 3, 1968. The Apollo 9 spacecraft, in the lunar mission configuration, was tested in Earth orbit. The mission was designed to rehearse all the steps and reproduce all the events of the Apollo 11 mission with the exception of the lunar touchdown, stay, and liftoff. The command and service modules, and the lunar module were used in flight procedures identical to those that would later take similar vehicles to the Moon, and a landing. The flight mechanics, mission support systems, communications, and recording of data were tested in a final round of verification. Astronauts Scott and Schweickart conducted Extravehicular Activity during this mission. |
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U.S. President Richard Milho
| Name of Image |
U.S. President Richard Milhous Nixon Watches Apollo 11 Recovery |
| Date of Image |
1969-07-24 |
| Full Description |
U.S. President Richard Milhous Nixon (center), aboard the U.S.S. Hornet aircraft carrier, used binoculars to watch the Apollo 11 Lunar Mission Recovery. Standing next to the President is astronaut Frank Borman, Apollo 8 Commander. The recovery operation took place in the Pacific Ocean where Navy para-rescue men recovered the capsule housing the 3-man Apollo 11 crew. The crew was airlifted to safety aboard the U.S.S. Hornet where they were quartered in a Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF) for 21 days post mission. The Apollo 11 mission, the first manned lunar mission, launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida via the Saturn V launch vehicle on July 16, 1969 and safely returned to Earth on July 24, 1969. The Saturn V vehicle was developed by the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) under the direction of Dr. Wernher von Braun. Aboard were Neil A. Armstrong, commander, Michael Collins, Command Module (CM) pilot, and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module (LM) pilot. The CM, piloted by Michael Collins remained in a parking orbit around the Moon while the LM, named ?Eagle??, carrying astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, landed on the Moon. Armstrong was the first human to ever stand on the lunar surface, followed by Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin. During 2½ hours of surface exploration, the crew collected 47 pounds of lunar surface material for analysis back on Earth. With the success of Apollo 11, the national objective to land men on the Moon and return them safely to Earth had been accomplished. |
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Dignitaries Await Apollo 11
| Name of Image |
Dignitaries Await Apollo 11 Lift Off |
| Date of Image |
1969-07-16 |
| Full Description |
From the right, NASA administrator, Dr. Thomas O. Paine talks with U.S. Vice President Spiro T. Agnew while awaiting the launch of Saturn V (AS-506) that carried the Apollo 11 spacecraft to the Moon for man?s historic first landing on the lunar surface. At center is astronaut William Anders, a member of the first crew to orbit the moon during the Apollo 8 mission. At left is Lee B. James, director of Program Management at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) where the Saturn V was developed. The craft lifted off from launch pad 39 at Kennedy Space Flight Center (KSC) on July 16, 1969. The moon bound crew included astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, commander, Michael Collins, Command Module (CM) pilot, and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module (M) pilot. The mission finalized with splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on July 24, 1969. With the success of Apollo 11, the national objective to land men on the Moon and return them safely to Earth had been accomplished. |
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Apollo 11 Astronauts Share L
| Name of Image |
Apollo 11 Astronauts Share Laughs With U.S. President Nixon |
| Date of Image |
1969-07-24 |
| Full Description |
The Apollo 11 mission, the first manned lunar mission, launched from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida via the Saturn V launch vehicle on July 16, 1969 and safely returned to Earth on July 24, 1969. The Saturn V vehicle was developed by the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) under the direction of Dr. Wernher von Braun. Aboard were Neil A. Armstrong, commander, Michael Collins, Command Module (CM) pilot, and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module (LM) pilot. The CM, piloted by Michael Collins remained in a parking orbit around the Moon while the LM, named ?Eagle??, carrying astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, landed on the Moon. Armstrong was the first human to ever stand on the lunar surface, followed by Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin. During 2½ hours of surface exploration, the crew collected 47 pounds of lunar surface material for analysis back on Earth. The recovery operation took place in the Pacific Ocean where Navy para-rescue men recovered the capsule housing the 3-man Apollo 11 crew. The crew was airlifted to safety aboard the U.S.S. Hornet, where they were quartered in a Mobile Quarantine Facility (MQF). Here the quarantined Apollo 11 crew members (l to r) Armstrong, Collins, and Aldrin, and U.S. President Richard Milhous Nixon share laughs over a comment made by fellow astronaut Frank Borman, Apollo 8 commander. The president was aboard the recovery vessel awaiting return of the astronauts. With the success of Apollo 11, the national objective to land men on the Moon and return them safely to Earth had been accomplished. |
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The Earth Also Rises
| Title |
The Earth Also Rises |
| Explanation |
The Lunar Orbiter 1 spacecraft [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/database/www-nmc?66-073A ] was launched in 1966 to map the lunar surface [ http://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/main.html ] in preparation for [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/lunartimeline.html ] the Apollo moon landings [ http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/ap11ann/introduction.htm ]. NASA's plucky robotic explorer performed its job well and pioneered this classic view of the Earth [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/imgcat/html/object_page/lo1_h102_123.html ] poised above the lunar horizon. The first humans to directly witness a similar [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap000115.html ] scene were the Apollo 8 astronauts [ http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/history/apollo/ apollo-8/apollo-8.html ]. As they orbited the Moon in December of 1968 they also recorded Earth rise in a photograph [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap951225.html ] that was to become one of the most famous images in history - a moving portrait of our world from deep space. |
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Earthrise from Moon-Orbiting
| Title |
Earthrise from Moon-Orbiting Kaguya |
| Explanation |
What does the Earth look like from the Moon? A new version of this space age perspective [ http://www.abc.net.au/science/moon/earthrise.htm ] was captured by the robotic Kaguya spacecraft [ http://www.selene.jaxa.jp/en/greeting/greeting_e.htm ] currently in orbit around Earth's Moon. Launched two months ago by Japan, the scientific mission [ http://www.selene.jaxa.jp/en/science/of_moon_e.htm ] of the Selenological [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selenology ] and Engineering Explorer (SELENE), nicknamed Kaguya, is to study the origin [ http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/tothemoon/origins.html ] and evolution of the Moon [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010809.html ]. Last month Kaguya [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SELENE ] reached lunar orbit and starting transmitting data and images. This frame [ http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/11/ 20071113_kaguya_e.html ] is from [ http://www.jaxa.jp/press/2007/11/ 20071107_kaguya_movie_e.html ] Kaguya's onboard HDTV [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HDTV ] camera. An astronaut standing on the lunar surface [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030920.html ] would never actually see the Earth rise, since the Moon always keeps the same side toward the Earth [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap051113.html ]. This Earthrise as well as the famous Earthrise captured 40 years ago [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap051224.html ] by the crew of Apollo 8 [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/ apollo8info.html ], only occurs for observers in lunar orbit. |
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Earth Rise
| Title |
Earth Rise |
| Explanation |
During 1968, the Apollo 8 [ http://www.lpi.usra.edu/expmoon/Apollo8/Apollo8.html ] crew flew from the Earth [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap001127.html ] to the Moon [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010218.html ] and back. The crew, consisting of Frank Borman [ http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/borman-f.html ], James Lovell [ http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/lovell-ja.html ], and William Anders [ http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/anders-wa.html ], were launched atop a Saturn V rocket [ http://www.apollosaturn.com/frame-sv.htm ] on December 21, circled the Moon ten times in their command module, and landed back on Earth on December 27. The Apollo 8 [ http://www.nasm.edu/apollo/AS08/a08.htm ] mission's impressive list of firsts includes: the first humans to journey to the Earth's Moon [ http://www.nineplanets.org/luna.html ], the first manned flight using the Saturn V [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010525.html ], and the first to photograph the Earth from deep space. The famous picture above [ http://images.jsc.nasa.gov/images/pao/AS8/10074963.htm ], showing the Earth rising above [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010713.html ] the Moon's limb as seen from lunar orbit, was a marvelous gift to the world. |
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Earth Rise
| Title |
Earth Rise |
| Explanation |
During the 1968 Christmas season Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders flew the Apollo 8 [ http://www.ksc.nasa.gov/history/apollo/apollo-8/ apollo-8.html ] command module From the Earth to the Moon [ http://www.w3.org/hypertext/DataSources/bySubject/ Literature/Gutenberg/etext93/moon10.txt ] and back (launched Dec. 21, achieved 10 lunar orbits, landed Dec. 27). The Apollo 8 [ http://www.nasm.edu/APOLLO/AS08/Apollo8_fact.html ] mission's impressive list of firsts includes, the first manned flight using the Saturn V rocket [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950829.html ], the first humans to journey to the Earth's Moon [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap951128.html ], and the first to photograph the Earth from deep space [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950819.html ]. The famous picture above [ http://images.jsc.nasa.gov/images/pao/AS8/10074963.htm ], showing the Earth rising above the Moon's limb as seen from lunar orbit, was a marvelous gift to the world. This was astronaut James Lovell's third mission. His last flight would be as commander of Apollo 13 [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950708.html ]. |
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Explanation: The Lunar Orbit
| Title |
Explanation: The Lunar Orbiter 1 spacecraft [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/database/www-nmc?66-073A ] was launched in 1966 to map the lunar surface [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/lib/moon.html ] in preparation for [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/lunartimeline.html ] the Apollo moon landings [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/lunar/apollo.html ]. NASA's plucky robotic explorer performed its job well and pioneered this classic view of the Earth [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/imgcat/html/object_page/lo1_h102_123.html ] poised above the lunar horizon. The first humans to directly witness a similar [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap951117.html ] scene were the Apollo 8 astronauts [ http://www.nasm.edu/APOLLO/AS08/Apollo8_fact.html]. As they orbited the Moon in December of 1968 they also recorded Earth rise in a photograph [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap951225.html ] that was to become one of the most famous images in history - a moving portrait of our world from deep space. |
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Earthrise
| Title |
Earthrise |
| Explanation |
In December of 1968, the Apollo 8 [ http://www.lpi.usra.edu/expmoon/Apollo8/Apollo8.html ] crew flew from the Earth to the Moon [ http://jv.gilead.org.il/pg/moon/ ] and back again. Frank Borman [ http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/ borman-f.html ], James Lovell [ http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/ lovell-ja.html ], and William Anders [ http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/ anders-wa.html ] were launched atop a Saturn V rocket [ http://www.apollosaturn.com/saturnv.htm ] on December 21, circled the Moon ten times in their command module, and returned to Earth on December 27. The Apollo 8 [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/database/ MasterCatalog?sc=1968-118A ] mission's impressive list of firsts includes: the first humans to journey to the Earth's Moon [ http://www.nineplanets.org/luna.html ], the first manned flight using the Saturn V [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010525.html ], and the first to photograph [ http://www.lpi.usra.edu/expmoon/Apollo8/ A08_Photography.html ] the Earth from deep space. As the Apollo 8 command module rounded the farside of the Moon, the crew could look toward the lunar horizon [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010713.html ] and see the Earth appear to rise, due to their spacecraft's orbital motion. The famous picture [ http://www.abc.net.au/science/moon/earthrise.htm ] that resulted, of a distant blue Earth [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap030426.html ] above the Moon's limb, was a marvelous gift to the world. |
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An Earth Ornament
| Title |
An Earth Ornament |
| Explanation |
The Apollo 8 [ http://www.nasm.edu/apollo/AS08/ ] astronauts spent the 1968 Christmas Season orbiting the Moon [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap951225.html ], returning with striking images of both Moon and Earth from space - pictures which inspired the world. While in lunar orbit in 1994, the prospecting Clementine spacecraft [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap961204.html ] also turned its cameras toward the home world and the result was this mosaic of 70 high resolution images [ http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/imgcat/html/object_page/clm_earth_mos.html ] of our planet from a cosmic perspective [ http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap980904.html ]. The swirling clouds and dramatic colors give the Earth [ http://terra.nasa.gov/ ] the appearance of a delicate, painted ornament hanging in space. Best Wishes and Seasons Greetings from Astronomy Picture Of The Day! |
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APOLLO 8: Birth of a Machine
| Title |
APOLLO 8: Birth of a Machine (pt 1/2) |
| Description |
This clip shows the launch of APOLLO 8: The "Birth of a Machine" and begins to reveal the origin of its components. From the film documentary 'APOLLO 8:"Debrief"': part of a documentary series made in the early 70's on the APOLLO missions, and narrated by Burgess Meredith. (Actual date created is not known at this time) First manned Saturn V flight with Frank Borman, James A. Lovell, Jr.,and william A. Anders. First manned lunar orbit mission, provided a close-up look at the moon during 10 lunar orbits. Mission Duration 147hrs. 0 min. 42s. |
| Date |
01.23.1974 |
|
APOLLO 8: Birth of a Machine
| Title |
APOLLO 8: Birth of a Machine (Pt 2/2) |
| Description |
Part 2 of the clip 'Birth of a machine'. This clip reveals the origins of the major components of the mission. From the film documentary 'APOLLO 8:"Debrief": part of a documentary series made in the early 70's on the APOLLO missions, and narrated by Burgess Meredith. (Actual date created is not known at this time) APOLLO 8: First manned Saturn V flight with Frank Borman, James A. Lovell, Jr., and william A. Anders. First manned lunar orbit mission, provided a close-up look at the moon during 10 lunar orbits. Mission Duration 147hrs 0m 42s |
| Date |
01.23.1974 |
|
APOLLO 8: It's Christmas in
| Title |
APOLLO 8: It's Christmas in zero gravity... |
| Description |
Astronauts and ground control consider how Santa is going to gain access to the command module... From the film documentary 'APOLLO 8:"Debrief": part of a documentary series made in the early 70's on the APOLLO missions, and narrated by Burgess Meredith. (Actual date created is not known at this time) First manned Saturn V flight with Frank Borman, James A. Lovell, Jr.,and william A. Anders. First manned lunar orbit mission, provided a close-up look at the moon during 10 lunar orbits. Mission Duration 147hrs 0m 42s |
| Date |
01.23.1974 |
|
View of lunar surface taken
| Title |
View of lunar surface taken from Apollo 8 spacecraft |
| Description |
View of the lunar surface taken from the Apollo 8 spacecraft looking southward from high altitude across the Southern Sea. The bright-rayed crater near the horizon is located near 130 degrees east longitude and 70 degrees south latitude. The dark floored crater near the middle of the right side of the photograph is about 70 kilometers (45 statute miles) in diameter. Both features are beyond the eastern limb of the moon as viewed from earth, neither has a name. |
| Date |
12.24.1968 |
|
View of lunar surface taken
| Title |
View of lunar surface taken from Apollo 8 spacecraft |
| Description |
This Apollo 8 photograph is a view looking south toward the lunar horizon. The bright-rayed crater in the foreground is located at approximately 30 degrees south latitude and 110 degrees east longitude on the farside of the moon. This is another example of a bright-rayed crater which the astronauts photographed during the mission. This type of feature readily stands out in the Apollo 8 photographs because it was photographed at a high sun angle. |
| Date |
12.24.1968 |
|
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -
| Description |
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Former astronaut Jim Lovell acknowledges the applause as he is introduced as a previous inductee into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. He and other Hall of Fame members were present for the induction of five new space program heroes into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame: Richard O. Covey, commander of the Hubble Space Telescope repair mission, Norman E. Thagard, the first American to occupy Russia?s Mir space station, the late Francis R. "Dick" Scobee, commander of the ill-fated 1986 Challenger mission, Kathryn D. Sullivan, the first American woman to walk in space, and Frederick D. Gregory, the first African-American to command a space mission and the current NASA deputy administrator. Lovell piloted Gemini 7, commanded Gemini 12, orbited the Moon on Apollo 8 and commanded the aborted Apollo 13 moon flight. The induction ceremony was held at the Apollo/Saturn V Center at KSC. The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame opened in 1990 to provide a place where space travelers could be remembered for their participation and accomplishments in the U.S. space program. The five inductees join 52 previously honored astronauts from the ranks of the Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, Apollo-Soyuz, and Space Shuttle programs. |
| Release Date |
05/01/2004 |
|
View of lunar surface taken
| Title |
View of lunar surface taken from Apollo 8 spacecraft |
| Description |
This near-vertical photograph from the Apollo 8 spacecraft covers an area of approximately 50 x 50 statute miles within a 250 statute mile in diameter crater on the lunar farside. The center of this large crater is located at about 157 degrees west longitude and 4 degrees south latitude. The large crater in the center of the picture is about 20 statute miles in diameter. |
| Date Taken |
1968-12-24 |
|
Oblique photograph looking n
| Title |
Oblique photograph looking northwest into Sea of Tranquility |
| Description |
This oblique photograph looks generally northwest from the Apollo 8 spacecraft into the Sea of Tranquility. The three prominent craters are Taruntis F in the lower right corner, Taruntis E in the center, and Cauchy between the two linear features. The Cauchy scarp, this side of the Cauchy crater, is formed by one to three faults stepped down toward the spacecraft. |
| Date Taken |
1968-12-24 |
|
View of lunar surface taken
| Title |
View of lunar surface taken from Apollo 8 spacecraft |
| Description |
View of the lunar surface as photographed from the Apollo 8 spacecraft. Zero-phase bright spot. With near vertical sun illumination, topographical detail is washed out and differences in surface brightness are acentuated. the numerous small bright-halo craters become conspicuous. A few larger craters have extremely bright inner walls that are commonly streaked by darker material. The bright glow near the conspicuous bright-walled crater is a halo that surrounds the position of the spacecraft shadow. |
| Date Taken |
1968-12-24 |
|
View of lunar surface taken
| Title |
View of lunar surface taken from Apollo 8 spacecraft |
| Description |
This Apollo 8 photograph is a view looking south toward the lunar horizon. The bright-rayed crater in the foreground is located at approximately 30 degrees south latitude and 110 degrees east longitude on the farside of the moon. This is another example of a bright-rayed crater which the astronauts photographed during the mission. This type of feature readily stands out in the Apollo 8 photographs because it was photographed at a high sun angle. |
| Date Taken |
1968-12-24 |
|
Photograph of nearly full mo
| Title |
Photograph of nearly full moon taken from Apollo 8 |
| Description |
Photograph of nearly full moon taken from the Apollo 8 spacecraft at a point above 70 degrees east longitude. Mare Crisium, the circular, dark-colored area near the center is near the eastern edge of the moon as viewed from Earth. Mare Nectaris is the ciruclar mare near the terminator. The large, irregular maria are Tranquillitatis and highlands to the south. Lunar farside features occupy most of the right half of the picture. The large, dark-colored crater Tsiolkovsky is near the limb at the lower right. Conspicuous bright rays radiate from two large craters, one to the north of Tsiolkovsky, the other near the limb in the upper half of the picture. The crater Langrenus is near the center of the picture at the eastern edge of Mare Fecunditatis. |
| Date Taken |
1968-12-22 |
|
High altitude oblique view o
| Title |
High altitude oblique view of lunar surface taken from Apollo 8 spacecraft |
| Description |
High altitude oblique view of the lunar surface was taken from the Apollo 8 spacecraft looking northeastward. The crater Joliet-Curie, about 175 kilometers in diameter and centered near 94 degrees east longitude and 27 degrees north latitude, is near the center of the left side of this photograph. The bright-rayed crater near the horizon is probably located near 105 degrees east longitude and 45 degrees north latitude. Long, narrow rays that have been reported in the polar region of the earth-facing hemisphere may radiate from this crater. |
| Date Taken |
1968-12-24 |
|
Brightly-rayed crater on the
| Title |
Brightly-rayed crater on the farside of the moon near the subsolar point |
| Description |
A brightly-rayed crater on the farside of the moon near the subsolar point, where the sun was directly overhead, as seen from the Apollo 8 spacecraft. Brightly-rayed craters are numerous on the lunar frontside, however, they have not been previously observed in such detail on the farside. |
| Date Taken |
1968-12-24 |
|
High-oblique view of Moon's
| Title |
High-oblique view of Moon's surface showing earth rising above horizon |
| Description |
High-oblique view of the moon's surface showing the earth rising above the lunar horizon, looking west-southwest, as photographed from the Apollo 8 spacecraft as it orbited the moon. The center of the picture is located at about 105 degrees east longitude and 13 degrees south latitude. The lunar surface probably has less pronounced color than indicated by this print. |
| Date Taken |
1968-12-22 |
|
View of crater Tsiolkovsky t
| Title |
View of crater Tsiolkovsky taken from Apollo 8 spacecraft |
| Description |
This is a view of the large crater Tsiolkovsky as photographed by the astronauts during the Apollo 8 lunar orbit mission, looking east toward the lunar horizon. Tsiolkovsky is approximately 150 statute miles in diameter. It was first identified and named by the Russians from photographs taken by their unmanned Luna III spacecraft. |
| Date Taken |
1968-12-24 |
|
High altitude view of lunar
| Title |
High altitude view of lunar surface taken from Apollo 8 spacecraft |
| Description |
High altitude view of the lunar surface was taken from the Apollo 8 spacecraft looking southward across the crater Humboldt toward the Southern Sea. Humbolt, located at 80 degrees east longitude and 28 degrees south latitude, is the 225 kilometer crater at the top center margin of the picture. Note the high albado along cracks in the floor of the crater. Visible structures within the dark areas on the crater floor suggest the dark material is lava. Dark areas near the lower left corner of the picture are more deposits within the Southern Sea. |
| Date Taken |
1968-12-24 |
|
Oblique view of lunar surfac
| Title |
Oblique view of lunar surface taken from Apollo 8 spacecraft |
| Description |
Oblique view of the lunar surface taken from the Apollo 8 spacecraft looking westward showing typical lunar farside terrain. The sharp crater near the center of the scene is near 117 degrees east longitude and 5 degrees south latitude, and it is 25 kilometers (15 statute miles) in diameter. That crater is on the rim of a large crater that occupies the lower right quarter of the photograph. |
| Date Taken |
1968-12-24 |
|
Oblique view of the lunar su
| Title |
Oblique view of the lunar surface taken from Apollo 8 spacecraft |
| Description |
This oblique view of the lunar surface was taken from the Apollo 8 spacecraft looking southward toward Goclenius and other large craters near 45 degrees east longitude and 10 degrees south latitude in the Sea of Fertility. Goclenius, the crater in the foreground with a rille-broken flat floor, is about 70 kilometers (45 statue miles) in diamter. One rille, approxiamtely horizontal in this view, crosses both crater rims and the central peak. In the background, the two large craters with smooth floors are Colombo A (left) and Magelhaens. Magelhaens A, the crater with the irregular floor is about 35 kilometers (20 statute miles) in diameter. |
| Date Taken |
1968-12-24 |
|
Near vertical view of lunar
| Title |
Near vertical view of lunar farside taken from Apollo 8 spacecraft |
| Description |
Near vertical view of the lunar farside as photographed from the Apollo 8 spacecraft. This crater which is about 22 statute miles in diameter, is located at 167 degrees east longitude and 11 degrees south latitude. This crater is located on the eastern edge of a much larger unnamed crater which is about 90 statute miles in diameter. |
| Date Taken |
1968-12-24 |
|
View of earth during return
| Title |
View of earth during return from moon taken from Apollo 8 spacecraft |
| Description |
View of the earth as photographed by the Apollo 8 astronauts on their return trip from the moon. Note that the terminator is straighter than on the outbound pictures. The terminator crosses Australia. India is visible. The sun reflection is within the Indian Ocean. |
| Date Taken |
1968-12-24 |
|
Oblique view of the lunar su
| Title |
Oblique view of the lunar surface taken from Apollo 8 spacecraft |
| Description |
This oblique view of the lunar surface was taken from the Apollo 8 spacecraft looking southward across the farside crater Tsiolkovsky which is centered near 129 degrees east longitude and 21 degrees south latitude. The flat floor of Tsiolkovsky is much darker than the surrounding lunar surface. It is darker than most of the mare material observed by the Apollo 8 crew. The dark material is about 125 kilometers (80 statute miles) across measured from the near-to far-side contsets in this view. The central peak, which stands as an "island" within the dark material, is about 40 kilometers (25 statute miles) long. High sun angle at the time of this photograph accentuates the contrast between light and dark material. The only boulders observed by the Apollo 8 crew had rolled from the light-colored peak onto the dark, smooth surface near the right hand end of the peak. |
| Date Taken |
1968-12-24 |
|
View of Goclenius and other
| Title |
View of Goclenius and other craters |
| Description |
This photograph was taken from the Apollo 8 spacecraft with long-focal length lens, looking south at the large crater Goclenius, which is in foreground. The three clustered craters are Magelhaens, Magelhaens A, and Colombo A. The crater at upper right is Gutenberg D. The crater Goclenius is located at 10 degrees south latitude, 45 degrees east longitude, and it is approximately 40 statue miles in diameter. |
| Date Taken |
1968-12-24 |
|
View of lunar surface taken
| Title |
View of lunar surface taken from Apollo 8 spacecraft |
| Description |
View of the lunar surface taken from the Apollo 8 spacecraft looking southward from high altitude across the Southern Sea. The bright-rayed crater near the horizon is located near 130 degrees east longitude and 70 degrees south latitude. The dark floored crater near the middle of the right side of the photograph is about 70 kilometers (45 statute miles) in diameter. Both features are beyond the eastern limb of the moon as viewed from earth, neither has a name. |
| Date Taken |
1968-12-24 |
|
View of rising Earth about f
| Title |
View of rising Earth about five degrees above the Lunar horizon |
| Description |
The rising Earth is about five degrees above the lunar horizon in this telephoto view taken from the Apollo 8 spacecraft near 110 degrees east longitude. The horizon, about 570 kilometers (250 statute miles) from the spacecraft, is near the eastern limb of the Moon as viewed from the Earth. On the earth, the sunset terminator crosses Africa. The south pole is in the white area near the left end of the terminator. North and South America are under the clouds. The lunar surface probably has less pronounced color than indicated by this print. |
| Date Taken |
1968-12-22 |
|
Near vertical view of lunar
| Title |
Near vertical view of lunar farside taken from Apollo 8 spacecraft |
| Description |
Near vertical view of the lunar farside as photographed from the Apollo 8 spacecraft. The center of the picture is located approximately at 162 degrees west longitude and 6 degrees south latitude. |
| Date Taken |
1968-12-24 |
|
Oblique view of the lunar su
| Title |
Oblique view of the lunar surface taken from Apollo 8 spacecraft |
| Description |
This oblique view of the lunar surface taken from the Apollo 8 spacecraft looking westward across the Sea of Fertility into the Sea of Tranquility shows the terrain the astronauts will see as they approach Apollo Landing Site East 2. The landing site is at the horizon about one-third of the distance from the left to the right photograph margin. The prominent crater in the highlands near the center of the picture is Secchi, about 25 kilometers (15 statute miles) in diameter. |
| Date Taken |
1968-12-24 |
|
Oblique view of the lunar su
| Title |
Oblique view of the lunar surface taken from Apollo 8 spacecraft |
| Description |
This oblique view of the lunar surface taken from the Apollo 8 spacecraft looking westward across the Sea of Tranquility shows Apollo Landing Site East 2 illuminated by a sun that is six to eight degrees above the eastern horizon. The landing site is on the dark gray, smooth surface of the Sea of Tranquility and north (to the right) of the bright highland terrain at the lower left corner of the photograph. The landing site is about four tenths of the distance from the left to the right margin of the photograph. |
| Date Taken |
1968-12-24 |
|
Artist's concept of Apollo 8
| Title |
Artist's concept of Apollo 8 command/service module heading for the moon |
| Description |
North American Rockwell artist's concept illustrating a phase of the scheduled Apollo 8 lunar orbit mission. Here, the Apollo 8 spacecraft command and service modules, still attached to the Satury V third (S-IVB) stage, heads for the moon at a speed of about 24,300 miles an hour. |
| Date Taken |
1968-12-02 |
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