Let's Go to the Moon this Christmas - 3

Nearly time for lift-off. The countdown has been proceeding well since December 16th with no major problems along the way. Quite important for a new rocket, the Saturn V, which so far has had two okay-ish test flights. Today will be the first manned flight and it is hoped that modifications to the booster stages will work as planned.
Travelling to the Moon raises the stakes considerably in the event of a problem. In Earth orbit, assuming that there has not been a complete disaster, the astronauts can separate their capsule from the rocket stages and re-enter Earth's atmosphere. Gravity is an ally. A Moon mission however presents a quite different situation. Once out of the Earth's gravitational field and captured by the Moon's, it is only possible to return to Earth by either swinging around the Moon and coming straight back to Earth in a 'sling-shot' trajectory, or, if already in orbit around the Moon by accelerating away from the Moon using rocket power. Either way, the Astronauts will be several days away from Earth for much of their journey. Apart from radio and telemetry links with Mission Control in Houston, Texas, they are effectively on their own.
Of course, the crew, Borman, Lovell and Anders are all experienced in handling potentially risky situations, and they are well trained. As the countdown runs down through the Terminal Phase, let's meet them.



L-R - James (Jim) Lovell [Command Module Pilot], William (Bill) Anders [Lunar Module Pilot], Frank Borman [Mission Commander].



The Apollo 8 crew 'left the building' earlier this morning and are now waiting atop their Saturn V for a lift-off scheduled at around 12.50 GMT (7.50 EST).