Forty years ago, NASA began a mission of firsts leaving an indelible mark on history and reminding us all of our fragile existence. The early morning launch on Dec. 21, 1968, lofted Apollo 8 and crew on a journey that mixed technological prowess with a healthy dose of wonder and discovery.

Planned as a command and lunar module systems check with rendezvous and docking practice in low-Earth orbit, Apollo 8's mission original mission objectives were scrapped in August 1968 when flight planners got word the lunar module would not be ready in time for liftoff. This change meant that crew members Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and William Anders had only a few months to train and prepare for their new task — the first journey to the moon.

That no one had been to the moon before was one thing, but the Saturn V rocket had been plagued with problems. Earlier unmanned Apollo launches showed the multistage Saturn V suffered engine failures and oscillations that could potentially subject astronauts to high G-forces. Engineers and contractors went back to the drawing board to find solutions. They made corrections by adding a dampening system and changing out leak-prone fuel lines and faulty igniters. Final testing of the Saturn V modifications didn't happen until just three days before the actual launch date.

Flight commander Borman reported minor problems with the first and second stage performance following liftoff, but the crew was able to safely reach Earth orbit at an altitude of about 115 miles. The third stage remained attached to the command module to boost the crew into the proper lunar trajectory. After firing and separating from the third stage, Apollo 8 was on its way.

Leaving the safety of Earth's orbit, the crew became the first humans to pass through the protective shield of the Van Allen radiation belts and to view the entire Earth at once. The cruise stage of the flight lasted a little over two days. Adapting to space and the confines of the command module presented some challenges, but just before they entered the moon's gravitational pull, the crew managed to broadcast the first televised images of Earth from space. The broadcast feed was in black and white with the crew providing narration to describe the details and colors they could see.

During their journey, the lunar surface remained completely hidden from the astronauts until they rounded the far side of moon on their first orbit. One of the most important items on the mission checklist was to survey possible landing sites for Apollo 11 especially within the Sea of Tranquility. Apollo 8's launch was timed to give the best possible Sun angle to illuminate features in that area.

On their fourth orbit, the crew caught sight of the Earth rising over the limb of the moon. This never-before-seen moment was captured in a iconic photograph by William Anders. Its depiction of our planet contrasted with the desolate and inhospitable lunar surface allowed us to collectively grasp the idea that Earth is an oasis in the vastness of space. As Anders eloquently put it: "We came all this way explore the moon, and the most important thing is that we discovered the Earth."

The Apollo 8 crew made its second TV broadcast on Christmas Eve. After Commander Borman's introduced the crew, each astronaut shared his impression and descriptions of the lunar surface. Next, Anders kicked off the crew's Christmas message, and each astronaut took turns reading verses from the book of Genesis. Frank Borman closed the transmission with a parting comment: "And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, and a Merry Christmas to all of you, all of you on the good Earth."


Peter Lipscomb is director of the Night Sky Program for the New Mexico Heritage Preservation Alliance. Contact him at plipscomb@nmheritage.org.