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Apollo 8

retired

Human SpaceflightcislunarCOSPAR 1968-118ALaunched 12/21/1968

Mission & Launch

Launch Mission: Apollo 8 Mission
Launch Vehicle: Saturn V
Launch Date: 12/21/1968
Last Contact: 12/27/1968

Orbit & Mass

Orbit Class: cislunar
Altitude: 272,285 km
Inclination: 30.71 deg
Dry Mass: 5,524 kg
Total Mass: 28,816 kg

Payload Classification

Mission Type: Human Spaceflight
Payload Category: SS
Payload Class: C

Organizations

Operator: NASA Manned Spacecraft Center
Manufacturer: North American Aviation, Missile Division, Downey

Registry

COSPAR ID: 1968-118A
UN Registration: A/AC.105/INF.201

Mentions

23

All verified mentions of this spacecraft in source documents.

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Apollo 8 was the first manned space mission to orbit the Moon, launched in December 1968.

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GeneralPlanValue 3.0Apr 22, 2024Tintin, the first man in space and on the Moon

Scott A. McLaughlin’s lifelong passion for space was influenced by the 1968 Earthrise photograph taken aboard Apollo 8 by astronaut Bill Anders.

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