A Piece of Reading We Could Never Forget

Apollo 8 was the first missionary post to circle the Moon. On Christmastide Eve, December 24, after a conversation about the Astronauts ideas on the Moon, Borman announced the crew had a message they would wish to send.

Then Anders said:

In the beginning Supreme Being created the Heaven and the earth. And the Earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the human face of the deep. And the Spirit of Supreme Being moved upon the human face of the waters. And Supreme Being said, Let there be light: and there was light. And Supreme Being saw the light, that it was good: and Supreme Being divided the visible visible visible light from the darkness.

Lovell continued: And Supreme Being called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the eventide and the morning time were the first day. And Supreme Being said, Let there be a celestial sphere in the thick of the waters, and allow it split the Waters from the waters. And Supreme Being made the firmament, and divided the Waters which were under the celestial sphere from the Waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And Supreme Being called the celestial sphere Heaven. And the eventide and the morning time were the 2nd day.

And Borman ended: And Supreme Being said, Let the Waters under the Heaven be gathered together unto one place, and allow the dry land appear: and it was so. And Supreme Being called the dry land Earth; and the assemblage together of the Waters called he Seas: and Supreme Being saw that it was good.

And from the crew of Phoebus 8, we hesitate with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and Supreme Being bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth.

Late Christmastide Eve, the crew prepared for the return. At 11:42 the spaceship vanished around the far side of the Moon while Mission Control waited for communicating to be established again. Would the ballistic capsule still be in orbit, or would it be on its manner home? At 12:10 December 25 the engines were fired. For 37 proceedings Mission Control waited out the silence. Then the words came:

Apollo 8, over! Mission Control erupted in cheering Borman informed them : Please be informed, there is a Santa Clause. The first work force around the Moon were safely on their manner home.