On this day in 1968 at 12:51:00 UTC, the Apollo 8 mission was 
launched. Frank F. Borman II, James A. Lovell Jr. William A. Anders were
 to travel to the moon and back, the first time humans had ever ventured
 away from planet earth and the pull of its gravity. Below is a photo of
 a NASA technician placing two inflight pens and a penlight in the 
spacesuit pocket of Borman, the Apollo 8 commander.  The Saturn V rocket
 remains the tallest, heaviest, and most powerful rocket in terms of lifting power ever launched. It was on this flight that Anders took the stunning photo of “Earthrise”.
 For me, much more than the Apollo 11 mission in the summer of the next 
year, the Apollo 8 mission was a milestone in human endeavor which has 
yet to be eclipsed. #OTD#Apollo 8#NASA