Apollo 8 (December 21–27, 1968) was the first crewed spacecraft to leave Earth's gravitational sphere of influence, and the first human spaceflight to reach the Moon.

Jul 11, 2024 · On December 21, 1968, three NASA astronauts embarked on a journey that would take them “Round the moon and back.” The Apollo 8 mission proved the performance of the …

Apollo 8, which launched on December 21, 1968, was the first mission to take humans to the Moon and back. While the crew did not land on the Moon's surface, the flight was an important …

Sep 18, 2018 · NASA's Apollo 8 mission, launched in 1968, represented a vital milestone in human space exploration: carrying the first crew to beyond low Earth orbit and toward the moon.

Dec 20, 2018 · Despite the noise, the crew reported a smooth flight, and just twelve minutes later, Apollo 8 was safely orbiting the Earth. During the second orbit, the rocket’s third stage ignited …

Dec 21, 2025 · By Burt Dicht NSS Managing Director of Membership Image: Earthrise from Apollo 8, taken December 24, 1968. Courtesy NASA. December occupies a unique place in the …

Another first achieved during Apollo 8 was the first capsule splashdown in darkness. The S-IVB third stage and Apollo 8 spacecraft were launched into a low-Earth parking orbit to checkout …

Dec 23, 2025 · Discover the historic Apollo 8 mission, NASA's first crewed spacecraft to orbit the Moon. Led by Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders, Apollo 8 achieved …

May 31, 2025 · In December 1968, NASA’s Apollo 8 mission marked a historic moment in space exploration as the first manned mission to orbit the Moon. It was a pivotal step in the United …

For the first time in human existence, man finally broke the bounds of the earth when the three Apollo 8 astronauts took man's first trip to the moon.