Success
Apollo 8
Human Exploration
National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA)Government
Saturn V
LEOorbit
Apollo 8 was the first flight of the mighty Saturn V launch vehicle key to human exploration of the moon. The three-astronaut crew — Commander Frank Borman, Command Module Pilot James Lovell, and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders. This Mission was the first manned spacecraft to orbit the moon.
Saturday, December 21, 1968 at 12:51 PM
Replay
Links
Mission details
Orbital Attempt
#918
NASA Mission
#97
Pad Launch
#3
Location Launch
#3
Designator
1968-118
Launch Window
NET
Dec 21, 1968, 12:51 PM
Schedule Changes
1 update
Saturn V Specs
The Saturn V was a human-rated expendable rocket used by NASA between 1967 and 1973. Most notably, the Saturn V took the Apollo program to the Moon. It still remains the world's tallest, heaviest, and most powerful rocket ever brought to operational status and is the only launch vehicle to take humans beyond LEO.
Length
110.6 m
Diameter
10.1 m
Launch Mass
2,970 t
Thrust
35,100 kN
LEO Capacity
140,000 kg
Reusable
No
Maiden Flight
1967
Fastest Turnaround
1mo 28d
Total Launches
13
Successful
12
Failed
1
Consecutive Success
11
Maiden flight: Nov 9, 1967
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is an independent agency of the executive branch of the United States federal government responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. NASA have many launch facilities but most are inactive. The most commonly used pad will be LC-39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Founded
1958
Administrator
Administrator: Jared Isaacman
Total Launches
142
Successful
122
Failed
20
Pending
5
Consecutive Success
12
Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
The John F. Kennedy Space Center, located on Merritt Island, Florida, is one of NASA's ten field centers. Since 1968, KSC has been NASA's primary launch center of American spaceflight, research, and technology. Launch operations for the Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs were carried out from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 and managed by KSC. Located on the east coast of Florida, KSC is adjacent to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS).
Timezone
America/New_York
Local Launch Time
Dec 21, 1968, 7:51 AM
Total Launches
281
Total Landings
0
Coordinates
28.5242, -80.6508