Genesis: The Story of Apollo 8, the First Manned Flight to Another World Author: Bob Zimmerman Segment 7: Christmas Eve in Lunar Orbit: Earthrise and a Genesis Reading

Book Title: Genesis: The Story of Apollo 8, the First Manned Flight to Another World Author: Bob Zimmerman



Segment 7: Christmas Eve in Lunar Orbit: Earthrise and a Genesis Reading



On Christmas Eve, Apollo 8 entered lunar orbit, firing its SPS engine behind the moon with no communication. The crew initially found the moon's surface disappointing, describing it as "a skull" or a "sandbox." However, they captured the iconic "Earthrise" photograph; Frank Borman took a black and white image, while Bill Anders took the famous color one after scrambling for film. During a historic Christmas Eve telecast—the first from lunar orbit, broadcast in black and white—the astronauts, after much deliberation, read the first twelve verses of Genesis from the Old Testament, aiming to share a message of goodwill to the world.