Earthrise 1968: NASA Apollo 8 Commander Frank Borman (1928-2023) Tribute

Earthrise 1968: NASA Apollo 8 Commander Frank Borman (1928-2023) Tribute

NASA astronaut Bill Anders' first color image of Earthrise over the Moon on Dec. 24, 1968. NASA Image#AS08-14-2383

Earthrise  - Dec. 24, 1968 - Apollo 8 Mission

Earthrise  - Dec. 24, 1968 - Apollo 8 Mission

The first photograph taken of Earthrise by a human—NASA astronaut Bill Anders on Dec. 24, 1968. 

NASA Image#AS08-13-2329

Apollo 8 Commander Frank Borman (1928-2023) took this photo of Earthrise during the first human mission to the Moon in December 1968.

Official NASA Portrait of Astronaut Frank Borman (09-09-1968)

The Apollo 8 Prime Crew on Nov. 1, 1968: Left to right, are astronauts William A. Anders, lunar module pilot; James A. Lovell Jr., command module pilot; and Frank Borman, commander.

The Apollo 8 crew rocketed into orbit on December 21, 1968.

NASA astronaut Frank Borman (1928-1963) led the first team of American astronauts to circle the moon—extending humanity's horizons into deep space. His Apollo 8  crew rocketed into orbit on December 21, 1968, and after circling the moon 10 times on Christmas Eve, it was time to come home. On Christmas morning, mission control waited anxiously for word that Apollo 8’s engine burn to leave lunar orbit had worked. They soon got confirmation when Lovell radioed, “Roger, please be informed there is a Santa Claus.”

The crew splashed down in the Pacific on December 27. A lunar landing was still months away, but for the first time ever, humans from Earth had visited the moon and returned home safely.

Former NASA Astronaut Frank Borman passed away Nov. 7, in Billings, Montana, at the age of 95. 

Learn more about Frank Borman: 

https://www.nasa.gov/former-astronaut-frank-borman/

NASA Honors the life of Astronaut Frank Borman:

https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-administrator-honors-life-of-apollo-astronaut-frank-borman/

Read about NASA's Apollo 8 Mission:

https://www.nasa.gov/mission/apollo-8/

Image Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)/Johnson Space Center

Image Dates: Sept. 9-Dec. 24, 1968

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