The Apollo 8 Flight Journal - Day 4: Final Orbit and Trans-Earth Injection

On December 24, 1968 (43 years ago tomorrow ), the fourth flight day of Apollo 8, the first human mission to orbit the Moon, the existence of Santa was verified and confirmed by direct observation as Apollo 8 passed behind the moon.


089:31:58 Mattingly: Apollo 8, Houston. [No answer.]

089:32:50 Mattingly: Apollo 8, Houston. [No answer.]

089:33:38 Mattingly: Apollo 8, Houston.

089:34:16 Lovell: Houston, Apollo 8, over.

089:34:19 Mattingly: Hello, Apollo 8. Loud and clear.

089:34:25 Lovell: Roger. Please be informed there is a Santa Claus.

 

I remember that Neal. Didn't they almost run into each other? I also think Santa passed up the Apollo 8 on the way back to earth. I guess the man in the moon needs presents too.

 

Neal thanks for the post!I just read this to my 6yr old and she said WOW,Santa is just a little older than you Dad.

 

I don't recall any near miss, but what I do remember is this...the first photo of earthrise taken by Lovell...



A year or so after this I was driving a rig across Pennsylvania on I-80. A farmer painted the side of his barn flat black and using a sponge painting, mimicked the earthrise photo. It was spectacular, you could see it a mile a way and it was just like the photo above. I've always wondered if it is still there? I still have a hard time believing this occurred 43 years ago today!

 

Great post Neal.

Chet

 

And the Light shineth in darkness: and the darkness did not comprehend it.

 

NORAD's got him in Nigeria now. Check it out.

Track Santa in Google Earth ? NORAD Santa

 

Well Clay and them better say hi he is in portland as of 11:08pm PST

 

I've always wondered why that picture didn't have any stars.

Stewart

 

It's similar to why people in cities can't see the Milky Way. There is way too much light from the moon and the Earth, so the camera settings would not allow the stars to be seen.

 

As my grandad said "They shot the whole dang thing on a set in Moab Utah, you dang fool!" Yeah, he was a New Hampshire mountain man...But, Tugly (buttugly ?) said, it was the time the lens was open so the moon and earth would have proper exposure.

 

I hadn't put that together yet - that's clever.