Page 35 - Apollo 8 News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

And the other people said, no, we should send one more time, just to make sure. >> the cia began getting signals that maybe the soviets were going to try a circum-lunar flight, a big figure eight around the moon, which would have massively undercut the p.r. potential of a lunar landing or even, you know, a lunar orbital flight. >> to make matters worse for nasa, the lunar module wasn't ready to go into space. it was months behind schedule. but instead of falling further behind the soviets, nasa officials had a bold idea. >> the lunar module, unfortunately, was delayed considerably, and so, nas...

Claiming lbj's presidency and alienating millions of americans. against this turbulent backdrop, nasa resumed its manned flights and aimed to test in space the craft that it hoped to land on the moon before year's end. a sudden change of plans turned apollo 8 into another make-or-break mission. >> apollo 8 was not going to be a lunar flight. apollo 8 was going to be an orbital flight to test the lunar module in earth orbit to make sure everything was correct with the two vehicles before we ever committed them to the moon. >> apollo 8 was a big step forward, though even if successful, america w...

Earth, and look how small it is and how you can, you know, cover it up with your thumb. and you realize we were so fortunate to have a body that was in the proper position with the sun with the proper mass and everything to allow life to begin. >> with the world engrossed in apollo 8 epic journey, the astronauts marked the holiday season by taking turns reading from the old testament. >> god said let the waters under the heaven be gathered into one place and let the dry land appear, and it was so. and god called the dry land earth -- >> old testament is the basis of many of the world's religio...

Celebration for after you came back? >> well, partly. but i planned ahead of time, and i gave my wife a present that essentially the card said, "from the man on the moon." [ laughter ] >> apollo 8 showed everyone up, certainly the soviets. but while america was now leading the space race, the end of the decade and jfk's deadline were quickly approaching. coming up, there was only one giant step left to take on the pathway to the moon, and it would mark an epic moment in human history.

Earth, and look how small it is and how you can, you know, cover it up with your thumb. and you realize we were so fortunate to have a body that was in the proper position with the sun with the proper mass and everything to allow life to begin. >> with the world engrossed in apollo 8 epic journey, the astronauts marked the holiday season by taking turns reading from the old testament. >> god said let the waters under the heaven be gathered into one place and let the dry land appear, and it was so. and god called the dry land earth -- >> old testament is the basis of many of the world's religio...