Apollo 8 returns to Earth
Apollo 8 the first manned mission to the moon returns safely to Earth after an historic six-day journey.On December 21 Apollo 8 was launched by a three-stage Saturn 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral Florida with astronauts Frank Borman James Lovell Jr.and William Anders aboard.On Christmas Eve the astronauts entered into orbit around the moon the first manned spacecraft ever to do so.
During Apollo 8s 10 lunar orbits television images were sent back home and spectacular photos were taken of the Earth and the moon from the spacecraft.In addition to being the first human beings to view firsthand their home world in its entirety the three astronauts were also the first to see the dark side of the moon.On Christmas morning Apollo 8 left its lunar orbit and began its journey back to Earth landing safely in the Pacific Ocean on December 27.On July 20 of the following year Neil A.
Armstrong and Edwin Buzz Aldrin astronauts of the Apollo 11 mission became the first men to walk on the moon.
