December 22, 2008 | 4 comments

The Voyage of Apollo 8: The 40th Anniversary of Mankind's First Trip to the Moon [Slide Show]

When three U.S. astronauts became the first humans to leave Earth's gravity field, some NASA experts gave them a 50-50 chance of making it home alive

By Michael J. Battaglia

< Prev 13 of 15 Next >

CLICK TO ENLARGE + NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (NASA-MSFC)

TRIED, TESTED AND TRUE:

The Apollo 8 capsule, sans crew, is hoisted aboard the recovery aircraft carrier, U.S.S. Yorktown, after its successful splashdown on December 27, 1968. All spacecraft systems operated within allowable limits and all the mission objectives were achieved.

< Prev 13 of 15 Next >

More from this In-Depth Report

Features Apollo 8: When Mankind First Shook Earth's Kindly Bounds
Features Apollo 8: Flying into Space History during a Moment of Public Enthusiasm
Features Moon Lust: Will International Competition or Cooperation Return Humans to the Moon?
From the In-Depth Report The 40th Anniversary of Apollo 8's Journey to the Moon

More to Explore

Overview
In-Depth Report: The 40th Anniversary of Apollo 8's Journey to the Moon
Overview
SciAm.com In-Depth Report: 40 Years Later, the Journey of Apollo 8 Still Inspires
Audio
Christmas at the Moon; and Instant Egghead Guide: Mind

click to enable

Read Comments (4) | Post a comment

Discuss This Article

Click here to submit your comment.

VIEW:



	Email:
	Name:
	Address:
	Address 2:
	City:
	State:

Subscription Center

World Changing Ideas

Video ContestInnovation is the key to a better future. Enter your own World Changing Ideas videos in our contest.

Editor's Pick

Time to Ban Production of Nuclear Weapons MaterialA new global treaty that cuts off production of plutonium and highly enriched uranium for nuclear weapons could jump-start nuclear disarmament and help prevent proliferation