launched fromUSA
Apollo 8
Success
DEC 21196812:51:00 UTCThe first crewed spacecraft to leave low Earth orbit and the first to reach the Moon, orbit it, and return. The crew orbited the Moon ten times over the course of twenty hours.
LIFTOFF
DEC 21 196812:51:00 UTC
Success
launched fromLC-39AKennedy
aboardSaturn VSA-503intoAround the Moon and back
carrying36,930 kgof payload
Payloads · 2
- 01
Apollo CSM-103
28,870 kg - 02
Apollo LTA-B
9,000 kg
Crew · 3
- 01Frank F. Borman IIfromUSA
- 02James A. Lovell Jr.fromUSA
- 03William A. AndersfromUSA
Landing & recovery
descendedunderparachuteSuccess