The brought back picture of Earthrise. A premium black and white image was colored using hues from the initial color images. Credit: NASA, Apollo 8 Crew, Bill Anders; Processing and License: Jim Weigang, CC BY-SA
On December 24, 1968, Apollo 8 astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders ended up being the very first human beings to witness the Earth increasing above the moons barren surface area. Now we can relive the astronauts experience, thanks to data from NASAs Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.
Video Transcript:
[music] On December 24th, 1968, Apollo 8 astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders ended up being the first humans to orbit the Moon, and the first to witness the splendid sight called “Earthrise.” Now, we can see this historical occasion exactly as the astronauts saw it, thanks to brand-new information from NASAs Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, or LRO. LROs outstanding worldwide lunar maps, combined with the astronauts own photographs, reveal where Apollo 8 was over the Moon, and even its accurate orientation in area, when the astronauts first saw the Earth increasing above the Moons barren horizon.
It occurred a couple of minutes after 10:30 am Houston time, as Apollo 8 was coming around from the far side of the Moon for the 4th time. Navigator Jim Lovell was in the spacecrafts lower devices bay, about to make sightings on lunar landmarks with the onboard sextant, and Bill Anders was in the right-hand seat, observing the Moon through his side window, and taking pictures with a Hasselblad still video camera, fitted with a 250-mm telephoto lens.
Meanwhile, a second Hasselblad with an 80-mm lens was installed in Bormans front-facing window, the so-called rendezvous window, photographing the Moon on an automated timer: a brand-new image every twenty seconds. These photos, matched with LROs high-resolution surface maps, show that Borman was still turning Apollo 8 when the Earth appeared. It was just because of the timing of this rotation that the Earthrise, which had actually happened on Apollo 8s 3 previous orbits, however was hidden by the astronauts, now appeared in Bill Anderss side window.
Heres what it appeared like, as recreated from LRO data by Goddards Scientific Visualization Studio. Youll hear the astronauts voices as captured by Apollo 8s onboard tape recorder, beginning with Frank Borman announcing the start of the roll maneuver, and youll see the rising Earth move from one window to another as Apollo 8 turns.
Borman: All right, were gon na roll. Prepared … Set …
Anders: The impact crater with uh– at uh– just prior to the subsolar point on the south side, in the flooring of it, uh, [muddled], there is one dark hole. However I could not get a fast enough appearance at it to see if it might be anything volcanic.
Anders: Oh my God, appearance at that image over there! Theres the Earth comin up. Wow, is that pretty!
Borman: Hey do not take that, its not set up.
[shutter click] Anders: You got a color movie, Jim? Hand me a roll of color, quick, would you?
Lovell: Oh man, thats fantastic.
Anders: Hurry.
Lovell: Where is it?
Anders: Quick
Lovell: Down here?
Anders: Just get me a color. Got one?
Lovell: Yeah, Im looking for one. C 368.
Anders: Anything. Quick.
Lovell: Here.
Anders: Well, I believe we missed it.
Lovell: Hey, I got it right here [in the hatch window]
Anders: Let me get it out this one, its a lot clearer.
Lovell: Bill, I got it framed, its extremely clear right here!
[shutter click] Lovell: Got it?
Anders: Yep.
Lovell: Take several, take numerous of em! Here, offer it to me!
Anders: Wait a minute, just let me get the best setting here now, simply cool down.
Lovell: Take–.
Anders: Calm down, Lovell!
Lovell: Well, I got it right– aw, thats a stunning shot…Two-fifty at f/11.
[shutter click] Anders: Okay.
Lovell: Now vary-vary the exposure a little bit.
Anders: I did, I took two of em here.
Lovell: You sure you got it now?
Anders: Yeah, well get– well, itll turn up once again, I believe.
[music] For the astronauts, seeing the Earthrise was an electrifying and unforeseen experience, and one of the 3 pictures taken by Bill Anders ended up being a renowned image of the 20th century.
In 2018, the International Astronomical Union commemorated the occasion by calling a 25 mile size crater “Anders Earthrise.” A smaller sized crater was offered the name, “Eight Homeward.” Both craters are visible in the iconic Earthrise photograph.
Im Andrew Chaikin, author of “A Man on the Moon.”.
Satellite passing by: Beeping rhythmically]
The prime team of the Apollo 8 lunar orbit mission stands next to the gondola in Building 29 after dressing for centrifuge training in the Manned Spacecraft Centers (MSC) Flight Acceleration Facility (FAF). Delegated right, are astronauts William A. Anders, lunar module pilot; James A. Lovell Jr., command module pilot; and Frank Borman, commander. Credit: NASA.
About Apollo 8.
Apollo 8, a substantial turning point in space exploration, was the 2nd crewed mission in NASAs Apollo program and the first to leave Earths orbit. Launched on December 21, 1968, the objective was crewed by astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders. This mission marked a series of firsts: it was the very first human spaceflight to reach the Moon, the very first to orbit it, and the first to go back to Earth after orbiting another celestial body.
The primary objectives of Apollo 8 were to check human spaceflight abilities beyond low Earth orbit and to demonstrate translunar injection, lunar orbiting, and safe go back to Earth. The objective attained a significant mental success in the Space Race, capturing the worlds attention and demonstrating the United States capability to reach the Moon.
One of the most iconic moments of Apollo 8 was the “Earthrise” photo taken by William Anders, showing Earth rising over the lunar horizon. This image became an effective symbol of the mission and is considered among the most significant pictures of the 20th century. The crew likewise made a Christmas Eve broadcast where they check out from the Book of Genesis, which was enjoyed by millions worldwide.
Apollo 8 securely sprinkled down in the Pacific Ocean on December 27, 1968, and its success led the way for Apollo 11, which would meet the objective of landing humans on the Moon the list below year. The objectives achievements and legacy continue to be commemorated as turning points in human space exploration.
Credit: NASA, Apollo 8 Crew, Bill Anders; Processing and License: Jim Weigang, CC BY-SA
Navigator Jim Lovell was in the spacecrafts lower devices bay, about to make sightings on lunar landmarks with the onboard sextant, and Bill Anders was in the right-hand seat, observing the Moon through his side window, and taking pictures with a Hasselblad still electronic camera, fitted with a 250-mm telephoto lens.
It was only since of the timing of this rotation that the Earthrise, which had actually taken place on Apollo 8s 3 previous orbits, but was unseen by the astronauts, now came into view in Bill Anderss side window.
Launched on December 21, 1968, the mission was crewed by astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders. One of the most iconic moments of Apollo 8 was the “Earthrise” photograph taken by William Anders, showing Earth increasing over the lunar horizon.