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Tribute to Bill Anders, Apollo 8

Posted on Monday, June 10, 2024
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by AMAC, Robert B. Charles
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15 Comments
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America has so much more to be proud of … than many know. Sometimes, an event occurs that stops us, takes us back, and involuntarily reminds us how lucky we are, the legacy we share. The death of Bill Anders, the Apollo 8 astronaut, who was first around the moon, does that.

For those not alive in the 1960s, or like me who often forget, here are the basics. In 1968, the “Space Race” was underway, a proxy for nuclear war with the Soviet Union. JFK – and the nation – proposed in 1961 a human race to the moon. The Soviets, well ahead, accepted.

With the contest joined, February 1967 saw America suffer a body blow. Three astronauts were killed in a pad fire before any Apollo launched. America’s one-man Mercury and two-man Gemini missions were over, and three-man Apollo missions and the moon were next, nearly impossible.

After intensive review, design revisions, and five unmanned missions, Apollo 7 in Earth orbit to test the Command Module, hope grew that Apollo could stay on track. The race was intense.  

By late 1968, Apollo 8’s prime crew – Bill Anders, Frank Borman, and Michael Collins – were set to test the Lunar Module (LM), a spider-like lander, in near-Earth orbit.

Schedules were tight, and big things shifted. Michael Collins, later Command Module pilot for Apollo 11, unexpectedly needed back surgery. He was replaced on Apollo 8 by Jim Lovell, part of Apollo 8’s backup crew, which interestingly included Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.

Then NASA got word the LM was not ready, creating a dilemma. Wait for the LM to be ready before launching Apollo 8, losing time, or do a daring change-up, swap Apollo 8 for Apollo 9?

Where Apollo 9 was to prove America could get to the moon distance, orbit, and come back, Apollo 8 was only supposed to go into Earth orbit, test the LM, and come home.

Now, suddenly, all that changed. With no LM to test, was it possible for Bill Anders, Jim Lovell, and Frank Borman to change training, instead shoot for the moon itself, go out, and back safely?

They agreed to try, and so Apollo 8 – only a second manned Apollo – set their sights on the moon, and three men sat on the enormous Saturn V rocket, never before loaded with humans, the largest rocket Mankind has ever made, and resolved to get out to the moon.

Behind the scenes, NASA had another concern.  While the Space Race was about landing men on the moon, which America did in Apollo 11, and again in 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17 (13 was the miracle return, after a mid-course explosion), NASA feared the Soviets might go out and back with humans and claim victory. Sending Apollo 8 around the moon would prevent that.

So, Bill Anders, Jim Lovell, and Frank Borman lit “the candle,” and Americans held their breath. No human had ever left Earth’s gravitational field, let alone gone to the moon, gotten into lunar orbit, orbited without crashing, fired their engines for return – out to the orb and back.

On Christmas Eve 1968, as fate had it, the three attempted the feat and did it. America became the first to get men to “moon distance,” proving it was possible to go out and get home.

Hard to express was the jolt created by Bill Anders’ photograph known as “Earthrise,” taken while the Apollo 8 crew emerged from the moon’s backside. They suddenly saw not a sunrise or moonrise as on Earth, but an “Earthrise,” emergence from shadows of the miracle we call home, a delicate, lovely, indescribably gorgeous ball of blue and green backed by black space.

The picture, even now, is haunting, humbling, strangely emblematic of how unlikely our existence is in the vast universe, how miraculous is life, and how bound to one another we are – and must realize we are – despite our conflicts. We Earthlings are alone; we need each other.

That is what Bill’s photo showed us, or what it said to many.  Like someone finding a mirror, suddenly face to face with themselves, we all saw what words and imagination fail to convey. Bill Anders’ photo showed us how special, solitary, and precious we all are, to each other.

As if God has aligned time, space, survival, and faith for the moment, Bill’s photo, and the revelation that Apollo 8 could get to the moon, all coincided with Christmas Eve. So, the crew read from Genesis., Bill began, “In the beginning …” He was then followed by Lovell and Borman.

If you have never seen or heard it, just do so. The link is here. You will be moved, and cannot help but be moved. Anyone of faith, humility, gratitude, reflection, wonder, and wishing for relief from modern weariness will be. It is a marvel to hear again; we have it in us when we try.

After Apollo 8’s breathtaking journey to the moon, America’s confidence returned. Now 55 years ago, Apollo 11’s Armstrong and Aldrin walked on the moon, as Collins orbited.  While Bill’s death – family man, pilot, astronaut, Air Force general, and pioneer – is a loss, his life was and remains a gift. Americans are by nature daring, and he personified that all his life.

Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, attorney, and naval intelligence officer (USNR). He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (2018), and is National Spokesman for AMAC.

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Lhett
Lhett
4 months ago

RNC, Thank you for the refresher course on Apollo 8. Those were exciting times and I was lucky enough to be able to watch the newscasts at home. I had forgotten the reading of Genesis, so again I thank you for refreshing my memory. I believe the astronauts relied on their faith in god as an added tool in their tool box to help them complete their mission. Faith helped them to show us more of God’s universe.

GMK
GMK
4 months ago

I was 7 years old on that Christmas Eve night when the Apollo 8 crew read the Genesis story. It is forever etched in my memory, so much so that every Christmas Eve I listen to that broadcast. When I saw the news last Friday of his passing, I went to YouTube and listened to the broadcast. These were remarkable men who enabled all of us to get a glimpse into the vast majesty and power of God and His creation.

Rob citizenship
Rob citizenship
4 months ago

That spirit , that noble , courageous journey of the Astronauts – very well described in this article. So much to think about , especially how the ability to adapt to quickly changing situations was vital and provides for a great example to everyone who understands the value of being prepared and being responsible in dealing with challenges here on Earth too. Praise for Bill Anders, Jim Lovell , Frank Borman – always . When they accomplished their mission it surely marked a pivotal point in history , something of significance , something above and beyond previous achievements by other explorers with Earth exploration. It is good that you wrote this Robert, as time goes by ,the memory usually overlooks some details – and some of the details can be of true importance with all of the procedures involved in the Astronauts Space experiences .

SusanW
SusanW
4 months ago

Thank you, Robert, for a wonderful reminder of “how miraculous is life, and how bound to one another we are – and must realize we are – despite our conflicts . We Earthlings are alone; we need each other.” In today’s troubled world it is easy to forget how incredible we really are and how many wondrous things we have accomplished. As Buzz Aldrin once stated, “Whenever I gaze up at the moon, I feel like I’m in a Time Machine. I am back to the precious pinpoint of time, standing on the foreboding – yet beautiful – Sea of Tranquility.” Let’s never forget all the great things we have invented and created from ponderous thoughts that reside in our curious minds. As an educator, I am drawn to a quote from another well known astronaut, John Glenn – “The most important thing we can do is inspire young minds and to advance the kind of science, math, and technology education that will help youngsters take us to the next phase of space travel.” Never stop dreaming!

Bernadette
Bernadette
4 months ago

Thanks be to God that was recorded! We need a reminder that there was a time – that we can recapture when speaking the name of the Lord with reverence.
Those pioneers of space were brave, decent, loved their family, country and their maker.
Thank you for this wonderful tribute.

David Millikan
David Millikan
4 months ago

Excellent article.

Kay L Martin
Kay L Martin
3 months ago

I loved this article.Thank you for the heart felt explanation of those days gone.

Chris Conroy
Chris Conroy
3 months ago

Beautiful tribute. All Glory to God.

barbara stanford
barbara stanford
3 months ago

BEAUTIFUL. THANK YOU. GOD IS GOD EVERYWHERE AND ALL THE TIME!

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