On Christmas Eve, December 24, 1968, the crew of Apollo 8 became the first humans to orbit the Moon- and delivered one of the most memorable broadcasts in history.
During their ninth orbit, astronauts Bill Anders, Jim Lovell and Frank Borman read verses from the opening chapter of the Book of Genesis during a live television transmission to Earth.
It’s also when the famous Earthrise photo was taken, by astronaut Bill Anders. Nature photographer Galen Rowell described it as “the most influential environmental photograph ever taken”
A broadcast watched around the world
The Christmas Eve broadcast reached an estimated one billion people across 64 countries, making it one of the most widely watched television events of its time. Within 24 hours, recorded versions of the message had reached audiences in dozens more countries.
Viewers across North and South America and Europe were able to watch live thanks to the recently launched Intelsat 3 satellite, which was placed into operation a week ahead of schedule to support international coverage of the mission.
Choosing the Genesis reading
Commander Frank Borman initially struggled to draft a suitable message for the broadcast, concerned that references to peace could appear awkward given the ongoing Vietnam War.
Assistance came from Joseph Laitin of the US Bureau of the Budget, but the final idea- to read from the opening of Genesis- was suggested by Laitin’s wife, Christine Laitin. The text was printed on fireproof paper and officially included in the mission flight plan.
“Good night, good luck, and God bless all of you”
As the spacecraft orbited the Moon, Anders, Lovell and Borman took turns reading verses 1 to 10 of Genesis from the King James Bible, before closing with a message that has since become iconic.
“From the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas- and God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth,” Borman said.
The broadcast remains one of the most symbolic moments of the space age, blending technological achievement with a message of reflection during a turbulent period in world history.
The full transcript:
Bill Anders
We are now approaching lunar sunrise, and for all the people back on Earth, the crew of Apollo 8 has a message that we would like to send to you.
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.
Jim Lovell
And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.
And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.
And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.[
Frank Borman
And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.
And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.
And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas – and God bless all of you, all of you on the good Earth.
Also read: ON THIS DAY: The Nutcracker ballet premieres in Russia (1892)
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