HistoryCentral Est. 1996
The Sixties · Space

12/21/68 Apollo 8

12/21/68 Apollo 8
illustration
12/21/68 Apollo 8

December 21, 1968 Apollo 8 Orbits the Moon

On December 21st, 1968, Frank Borman, James A. Lovell, Jr., and William A. Anders blasted off in Apollo 8. Their six-day mission began atop a Saturn 5 rocket and took them on man's first orbit of the moon. The astronauts' live broadcast on Christmas Eve from lunar orbit will long be remembered. Apollo 8 successfully splashed down in the Pacific on December 27th.

From the makers of HistoryCentral

Explore our history apps

Take HistoryCentral with you. Our apps put American history and centuries of the human story in your pocket.

Browse the Apps →