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NASA Television Commemorates Apollo 8 Christmas Eve Broadcast
NASA HQ PRESS RELEASE Spaceref.com ^ | December 22, 2008 | NASA HQ PRESS RELEASE

Posted on 12/23/2008 5:29:00 PM PST by tricky_k_1972

NASA Television Commemorates Apollo 8 Christmas Eve Broadcast


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WASHINGTON -- NASA Television will honor the 40th anniversary of the historic Christmas Eve broadcast by the Apollo 8 crew with special programming Dec. 24 and 25 on the NASA TV Public Channel (101).

Forty years ago, Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders became the first humans to visit another heavenly body as they successfully orbited the moon in their Apollo 8 spacecraft. On Dec. 24, 1968, the three astronauts devoted one of their mission's six live television transmissions to reading from the biblical book of Genesis during what has since come to be known as the Christmas Eve Broadcast.

To commemorate the anniversary, NASA TV will air the following special programs:

"The Annual John H. Glenn Lecture -- An Evening with the Apollo 8 Astronauts," a panel discussion with Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders recorded Nov. 13, 2008, at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. Former U.S. senator and NASA astronaut John Glenn provided their introduction.

"The Apollo 8 Crew Remembers Historic Mission, Live from the Newseum," a panel discussion with the Apollo 8 astronauts moderated by Nick Clooney and recorded Nov. 13, 2008, at the Newseum in Washington.

"De-Brief Apollo 8," an historical documentary of Apollo 8, narrated by Burgess Meredith (1970).

"Apollo 8 Christmas Video," a 10-minute documentary featuring Apollo 8 astronauts describing their historic mission. (Excerpts from the John H. Glenn Lecture recorded Nov. 13, 2008.)

"Apollo 8 -- December 21, 1968," a NASA Manned Space Flight Film Report on the Apollo 8 mission (1970).

The NASA Television Video File also will include footage documenting the Apollo 8 mission's Christmas Eve broadcast. For program times and listings, consult the NASA Television schedule online at:

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Technical
KEYWORDS: anniversary; apollo8; astronomy; faithandphilosophy; merrychristmas; nasa; religion; spaceexploration
Merry Christmas from NASA.
1 posted on 12/23/2008 5:29:00 PM PST by tricky_k_1972
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To: KevinDavis; Frank_Discussion; unibrowshift9b20; RightWhale; El Sordo; SauronOfMordor; ...
We can either project our vision of the future of space exploration or allow some other nation to project theirs.
Our choice is simple, Lead or Follow.

Space Ping! If you want on or off this list please Freepmail me.
My Home Page

2 posted on 12/23/2008 5:29:33 PM PST by tricky_k_1972 (Putting on Tinfoil hat and heading for the bomb shelter.)
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To: markman46; AntiKev; wastedyears; ALOHA RONNIE; RightWhale; anymouse; Brett66; SunkenCiv; ...

3 posted on 12/23/2008 5:33:50 PM PST by KevinDavis (Thomas Jefferson: A little rebellion now and then is a good thing)
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To: tricky_k_1972

It was so cool when he started reading from the Bible. They were scared, and you knew it was real.


4 posted on 12/23/2008 5:36:17 PM PST by Clock King (Radical Conservatives, arise!)
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To: KevinDavis

I remember it from when it happened.

Gives me goosebumps just thinking about it!


5 posted on 12/23/2008 5:52:33 PM PST by BenLurkin
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To: tricky_k_1972
Christmas of 1968 was an exciting time for me. I had just graduated from the Air Force’s Squadron Officers School. I was on leave at home for the holidays and was anxiously awaiting the birth of my second child. My wife was due around Christmas and, sure enough, on the evening of Dec 23rd she went into labor. There had been an increase in the number of influenza cases that year. The hospital administration quarantined the maternity ward and sent all expectant fathers home to wait by the phone.

As I waited, I watched the Apollo 8 mission coverage. These were heady times for the space program. Within hours, Borman, Anders and Lovell would be the first men to see the far side of the moon.

Mission Control announced that the crew had been given permission for the lunar insertion burn. Apollo 8 ducked behind the moon and the lunar orbit was established. I was on my 10th cup of coffee and still no word from the hospital. Then the crew began to read from Genesis. My heart began to soar… the phone rang. I was the proud Pop of a healthy baby daughter and Mom was doing fine.

The next day I was allowed to visit Mom and my new daughter. I had just finished “The Godfather” and remembered that Michael’s wife in Sicily had been named Apollonia. I suggested this name for my daughter but Mom nixed it. These many years later, she may be Lisa to the rest of the world, but for me she’ll always be Apollonia!

6 posted on 12/23/2008 6:04:47 PM PST by Young Werther (Julius Caesar (Quae Cum Ita Sunt. Since these things are so.))
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To: Clock King

I didn’t think they were scared at all on Apollo 8, I’d bet they were thrilled.

Now, Armstrong and Aldrin, they were scared! :)


7 posted on 12/23/2008 6:09:49 PM PST by RaceBannon (We have sown the wind, but we will reap the whirlwind. NObama. Not my president.)
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To: tricky_k_1972
Speaking of NASA...I just love this pic...


8 posted on 12/23/2008 6:44:49 PM PST by az.b1bbomberfxr
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To: KevinDavis

I remember this it was so cool and exciting. My Mom and Dad had a cook out for this with some friends over for it . I remember my older cousin came over and hooked up a reel to reel recorder to make audio record of this event.


9 posted on 12/23/2008 7:24:33 PM PST by Captain Beyond (The Hammer of the gods! (Just a cool line from a Led Zep song))
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To: BenLurkin
I remember it from when it happened.

Me too! I was 6 years old at the time, and completely enamored with the space program. I was glued to the TV set.

I can't believe that it's been 40 years!

Mark

10 posted on 12/23/2008 9:20:28 PM PST by MarkL (Do I really look like a guy with a plan?)
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To: Clock King
It was so cool when he started reading from the Bible. They were scared, and you knew it was real.

they were definitely NOT SCARED!

It was however a wonderful experience and it still moves me every time I hear it.

11 posted on 12/24/2008 4:39:26 AM PST by Vaquero ( "an armed society is a polite society" Robert A. Heinlein)
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To: Vaquero

Seemed to me they were because I remember the shakiness in their voices. Maybe scared is the wrong word: in total awe and wonderment is a better description. We know these were Men with the Right Stuff!


12 posted on 12/24/2008 6:00:38 AM PST by Clock King (Radical Conservatives, arise!)
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