Watch the Launch

Additional Media

Apollo 8 Launch

Edited footage of the Apollo 8 launch, several camera views compiled. Runs from T-00:25 through T+03:25. See the mighty Saturn V launch vehicle in action, ca...

APOLLO 8 launch: Relive! this fantastic launch on ABC," EXCEPTIONAL HISTORICAL MOMENT " Dec. 21,1968

If you liked! GO TO APOLLO-17, TERRIFIC LAUNCH LIVE, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yIvOYFOm6c also Apollo 15 launch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwMehQl0...

Apollo 8 - The Launch (Full Mission 01)

Apollo 8 - The Launch - Full Mission 01 This video details the countdown and launch of Apollo 8 on 21st December 1968. It is the first of an intended series ...

Apollo 8 - Wikipedia

First crewed space mission to orbit the Moon Apollo 8 was the first crewed spacecraft to leave low Earth orbit and the first to reach the Moon, orbit it, and return.[1][2][3] Its three-astronaut crew — Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders — were the first humans to fly to …

Apollo 8

Circle Image

Overview

Destination: Low Earth Orbit
Mission: Human Exploration

Low Earth Orbit Launch Complex 39A Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

Apollo 8 was the first flight of the mighty Saturn V launch vehicle key to human exploration of the moon. The three-astronaut crew — Commander Frank Borman, Command Module Pilot James Lovell, and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders. This Mission was the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon.

Saturn V

Family:
Configuration: V

The Saturn V was a human-rated expendable rocket used by NASA between 1967 and 1973. Most notably, the Saturn V took the Apollo program to the Moon. It still remains the world's tallest, heaviest, and most powerful rocket ever brought to operational status and is the only launch vehicle to take humans beyond LEO.

Specifications
  • Stages
    3
  • Length
    110.6 m
  • Diameter
    10.1 m
  • Fairing Diameter
  • Launch Mass
    2970.0 T
  • Thrust
    35100.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Saturn V
  • Family
  • Variant
    V
  • Alias
  • Full Name
    Saturn V
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
    140000.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity

Apollo CSM-103


In-active Human Rated Crew On-board: 3 Crew Capacity: 3 Payload Capacity: 1050 kg
Destination: Moon Orbit
Serial Number: CSM-103

CSM-103 was an Apollo Command & Service Module used in the Apollo 8 mission.

Apollo Command/Service Module Details

Crew


Frank Borman

Commander - configurations.Country.None - ( NASA )

Status: Deceased

Date of Birth: March 14, 1928
Date of Death: Nov. 7, 2023

Jim Lovell

Command Module Pilot - configurations.Country.None - ( NASA )

Status: Retired

Date of Birth: March 25, 1928
Age: 96

William Anders

Lunar Module Pilot - configurations.Country.None - ( NASA )

Status: Deceased

Date of Birth: Oct. 17, 1933
Date of Death: June 7, 2024

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

(NASA)

Administrator: Bill Nelson Founded: 1958 Successes: 121 Failures: 20 Pending: 6

Agency Type:

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. NASA have many launch facilities but most are inactive. The most commonly used pad will be LC-39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

INFO WIKI

Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

Launch Complex 39A


Starship
Success
2 days, 6 hours ago
Integrated Flight Test 6
Orbital Launch Mount A - SpaceX Starbase, TX, USA

Sixth test flight of the two-stage Starship launch vehicle.


Falcon 9
Success
3 days, 9 hours ago
GSAT-20 (GSAT-N2)
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

GSAT-20 is an Indian geostationary Ka-band high-throughput communications satellite. GSAT 20 is reportedly built on the I-6K unified modular bus a…


Falcon 9
Success
3 days, 22 hours ago
Starlink Group 9-12
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 20 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Falcon 9
Success
4 days, 5 hours ago
Optus-X/TD7
Launch Complex 39A - Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

An unannounced geostationary communication satellite built by Northrop Grumman, alleged for the Australian telecommunications operator Optus. Details…


Long March 7
Success
6 days, 13 hours ago
Tianzhou-8
201 - Wenchang Space Launch Site, People's Republic of China

Seventh cargo delivery mission to the Chinese space station.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week ago
Starlink Group 6-68
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 24 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week ago
Starlink Group 9-11
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 20 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Long March 4B
Success
1 week, 1 day ago
Haiyang 4-01
Launch Complex 9 - Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Next generation Chinese ocean salinity measurements satellite to study ocean climatic changes and its effects on ecology and biological cycles.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 3 days ago
Starlink Group 6-69
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 24 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Falcon 9
Success
1 week, 3 days ago
Koreasat 6A
Launch Complex 39A - Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA

The Koreasat 6A spacecraft, built by Thales Alenia Space, will have 20 transponders for fixed satellite services and six for TV broadcasting to repla…