Just recently the world was saddened to hear that former astronaut Frank Borman had passed away. Borman, along with Jim Lovell and Bill Anders traveled to the Moon and back in December 1968. Everyone remembers Apollo 11 and Neil Armstrong’s first steps on the Moon. Apollo 11 was actually NASA’s third manned trip to the Moon after Apollo 8 and 10. Apollo 8 was humanity’s first voyage to another celestial object, and the first time astronauts left the close confines of the Earth.
Apollo 8 is remembered for the “Genesis Reading” on December 24, 1968. However, the lasting image from this mission is the photo of Earth as it rose above the rim of the Moon.
More Information
“Earthrise.” NASA, Apollo 8. June 25, 2013.
“This Week in NASA History: Apollo 8 Captures ‘Earthrise’ – Dec. 24, 1968.” NASA History. December 21, 2018. Credit: NASA.
“Earthrise in 4K.” NASA, Scientific Visualization Studio. December 21, 2018. Updated March 3, 2023. Visualizations by Ernie Wright. Credits: NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio.
William Steigerwald. “NASA Releases New Earthrise Simulation Video.” NASA, Apollo 8. December 19, 2013. Credits: NASA Goddard Scientific Visualization Studio.
Robert Poole (space.com). “‘This must be what God sees’: The inside story of ‘Earthrist.’ the most famous photo of our planet ever taken.” Live Science. November 21, 2023.
“Apollo 8 Genesis Reading.” NASA Science – Earth’s Moon. July 12, 2018. Image Credit: NASA/JSC.
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