207 a
NASA / Unidentified Photographer

The first humans departing for another world

Apollo 8, December 21, 1968

Two vintage gelatin silver prints on fiber-based paper, each 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with NASA KSC captions numbered “68-H-1329” and “68-H-1347” on the versos

207 b
NASA / Unidentified Photographer

Launch Control Center monitoring prelaunch activities of the first mission to another world at the Kennedy Space Center

Apollo 8, December 21, 1968

Vintage gelatin silver print on fiber-based paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with NASA KSC caption numbered “68-H-1342” on the verso

207 c
NASA / Unidentified Photographer

Liftoff of the first Saturn V rocket sending humans to another world; contrast between nature and the space age

Apollo 8, December 21, 1968, 000:00:10 GET

Vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with NASA HQ caption numbered “68- HC-866” and “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso
20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in)

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Lot Essay

207 a
NASA technicians suit up Apollo 8 astronauts front to back Frank Borman, James Lovell and William Anders (first photograph).

In the White Room, 320 feet above the Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A, a member of the close-out crew appears to be giving William Anders final instructions before he enters the spacecraft, rear (second photograph).

“There was a startling moment there, right at liftoff,” recalled William Anders. “Everybody got quite startled because we had simulated the hell out of everything, aborts and everything, but nobody had ever been on a Saturn V...” (Chaikin, Voices, p. 20).

207 b
“During the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s first manned lunar voyage, its crew will circle the Moon ten times to conduct navigational and photographic exercices” (NASA caption).

207 c
“In this contrast between Nature and the Space Age, a lone egret appears to be watching the launch of Apollo 8” (NASA caption).

The Apollo 8 (Spacecraft 103/Saturn 503) space vehicle was launched from Pad A, Launch Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center (KSC), at 7:51 a.m. (EST), Dec. 21, 1968. Trailing an immense column of flame, the mighty Apollo 8 Saturn V speeded out of the atmosphere, next stop the Moon. It was the first manned flight of the Saturn V and first manned flight to the Moon.

“We had a lot of acceleration just prior to first stage cutoff. We were really being squashed back... We were up to four and a half g’s or whatever it was. And, you know, your chest compressed down. You’re panting,” remembered William Anders (Chaikin, Voices, p. 23).