Moon
Apollo 8
Lunar orbiter, Apollo 8.
![Taken by Apollo 8 crewmember Bill Anders on December 24, 1968, at mission time 075:49:07 [8] (16:40 UTC), while in orbit around the Moon, showing the Earth rising for the third time above the lunar horizon. The lunar horizon is approximately 780 kilometers fro](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Fmissions%2Fharvested%2Fapollo-8.webp&w=3840&q=75)
Completed or retired · Historical mission record
View in 3D map ↗Overview
The mission
Lunar orbiter, Apollo 8. This reconstructed record groups 1 GCAT payload or flight element under launch 1968-118; fields not present in GCAT are intentionally left unset.
Launch profile
The launch
- Launch
- 21 December 1968, 12:51:00 UTC
- Launch location
- NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Florida
- Launch vehicle
- Saturn V
- Orbit
- Cislunar or translunar orbit
Flight data
Launch intelligence
A NASA Saturn V rocket launched the Apollo 8 mission on Saturday, December 21, 1968 at 12:51 PM (UTC).
- Launch provider
- NASA
- Vehicle
- Saturn V
- COSPAR launch ID
- 1968-118
- Flight profile
- Orbital
- Launch result
- Success
- Window opens
- Not published
- Target T-0
- Dec 21, 1968, 12:51 UTC
- Window closes
- Not published
- Provider display
- Dec 21 1968
- Pad and location
- LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center
Trajectory
Mission timeline
Interactive playback
Play trajectory in 3D ↗Follow the mission through its available trajectory data in the full 3D solar-system map.
Mission outcomeOpen outcome source ↗
Mission ended — Completed or retired
Operations concluded · 27 December 1968
Historical mission record
GCAT records the primary mission element as completed or no longer operational.
Hardware
Spacecraft
Apollo 8
Lunar orbiter, Apollo 8.
- GCAT ID
- S03626
- Manufacturer
- North American Aviation, Missile Division, Downey
- Launch mass
- 5,524 kg
- Dimensions
- 3.5 m long · 3.9 m diameter · 3.9 m span
Visual archive
Gallery
12 images from Apollo 8.
![Taken by Apollo 8 crewmember Bill Anders on December 24, 1968, at mission time 075:49:07 [8] (16:40 UTC), while in orbit around the Moon, showing the Earth rising for the third time above the lunar horizon. The lunar horizon is approximately 780 kilometers fro](/images/missions/harvested/apollo-8.webp)
Verification
Community discussion
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