Apollo 8

Apollo 8 was NASA’s 1968 crewed mission that first carried humans into orbit around the Moon. Its crew circled the Moon ten times and returned safely to Earth.

Saturn V: The multistage launch vehicle that carried Apollo spacecraft and crews toward the Moon. Its third stage sent Apollo 8 out of Earth orbit toward the Moon.
Frank Borman: An American astronaut who commanded Apollo 8, the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon. He led the crew through the mission’s lunar orbit and return.
Apollo program: NASA’s human spaceflight program that aimed to land astronauts on the Moon and return them safely to Earth. Apollo 8 was a pivotal early crewed mission in this larger effort.
Earthrise: A photograph showing Earth rising above the lunar horizon, taken by William Anders during Apollo 8. The mission produced this image, which became a widely recognized view of Earth.
Translunar injection: A spacecraft maneuver that increases speed enough to leave Earth orbit and travel toward the Moon. This burn began Apollo 8’s journey from Earth orbit to the Moon.
James Lovell: An American astronaut who piloted Apollo 8 and later commanded Apollo 13. His lunar-orbit navigation experience became crucial on Apollo 13.
Apollo 7: The 1968 crewed Earth-orbit mission that tested the Apollo command and service module. Its successful spacecraft test helped clear the way for Apollo 8’s lunar mission.
Apollo 11: The 1969 mission that first landed humans on the Moon and returned them safely to Earth. Apollo 8’s lunar-orbit success helped establish confidence and experience ahead of the landing.
Lunar orbit insertion: A rocket maneuver that slows a spacecraft so the Moon’s gravity captures it into orbit. The service module engine performed this burn to place Apollo 8 around the Moon.
William Anders: An American astronaut who flew on Apollo 8 and photographed Earth above the lunar horizon. He captured the image later known as Earthrise during the mission.

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