When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.This iconic view of the Earth rising over the moon was taken by astronaut Bill Anders on Dec. 24, 1968 during NASA’s Apollo 8 lunar orbiting mission. | Credit: NASA/Bill AndersFifty-seven years ago, three American astronauts set forth on one of the most audacious and inspiring journeys in human history.In late December 1968, NASA astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders launched to the moon aboard Apollo 8, becoming the first humans to break free of Earth’s gravity and travel to another world.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe moon of 1968 was different from the one that shines today. In a year scarred by assassinations, social upheaval, and a grinding war in Vietnam, the moon became something more than a distant celestial body. It emerged as a symbol of hope, national purpose and American resolve. Just as the nation was seemingly spinning out of control and being drained of the last ounces of its spirit, the moon suddenly came within its grasp.In a bold decision, stunning in both its simplicity and audacity, NASA chose to “bet the farm” to blunt Soviet lunar ambitions in the space race to the moon. Still recovering from 1967’s devastating Apollo 1 launch pad fire that killed three astronauts (including Mercury astronaut Gus Grissom), the space agency abandoned its careful, methodical building-block approach of increasingly complex Apollo Earth orbital missions and threw a “Hail Mary pass.”Hail Mary to the moonThe crew of NASA’s Apollo 8 mission, commander Frank Borman (right, waving), common module pilot Jim Lovell and lunar module pilot William Anders walk out to the transfer van on the way to the launch pad on Dec. 21, 1968. | Credit: NASAAround Christmas 1968, the United States would launch Apollo 8 to orbit the moon on the first crewed flight of the Saturn V – then the most powerful rocket ever built – in a small spacecraft powered by a single engine that absolutely had to work.It was brilliant. It took guts. And it was extraordinarily risky.AdvertisementAdvertisementNo space mission before or since had such a clear and uncomplicated objective. Two and a half hours after lau …
