T O P I C R E V I E W |
heng44 | Tense faces at the CapCom console in Mission Control during the Apollo 8 mission, 44 years ago today. Left to right are Mike Collins, Ken Mattingly, Jack Schmitt, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. Ed Hengeveld |
Henry Heatherbank | Wow, what a fantastic photo. Each of them would get to the Moon in the end, due in large part to the path paved by Apollo 8. And poor Mike Collins in this shot, who could have been forgiven for thinking what might have been at this moment, denied a seat on Apollo 8 because of his summer 1968 spinal bone spur surgery. But then to be teamed up with the guys on the far right about a month or so later, and into the history books... |
Besixdouze | Can anybody give us the backstory as to why the guys look so dispirited? They appear to have more of an 'after the event' look to me but I'd love to know what was happening at the time or what had just happened. Thanks for any input. |
tetrox | An incredibly emotive photograph with tension etched. 1968 had been a difficult year for the U.S. and world in general. To me Apollo 8 encapsulated the incredible boldness of the manned space program at the time, and was a much needed boost (no pun intended) to peoples spirits especially at Christmas. Would you know at which part of the mission this was taken? A great choice for the year end. |
heng44 | The photo doesn't have a caption, but my guess is that it was taken on December 24, around the time of the famous Christmas Eve broadcast. I have a similar photo with Mattingly as CapCom, so it must have been when he relieved Collins, or Collins relieved Mattingly. |
LM-12 | The mission transcripts seem to show that the Green Team (CapCom Collins) was replaced by the Maroon Team (CapCom Mattingly) on a shift-change. They were discussing the nausea problems experienced by the crew near the end of the Green Team shift on Flight Day 2. Maybe that is when the photo was taken. |
East-Frisian | That's a photo I like. |
Philip | 44 years ago... I was 3 years old. Tempus Fugit! |
bwhite1976 | I was wondering what your picture would be this week. Wonderful choice. |
mikepf | Ed, great photo as usual. I don't often comment, but always do check out and enjoy your picture postings. It's almost like opening a Christmas gift from you every week. Thank you very much for sharing them with us. I hope you have a great Christmas! |
heng44 | Thanks for your comments Mikie. The same to you and all members of collectSPACE! |
Tykeanaut | This was the mission that caught my imagination and has given me my interest ever since. |
icarkie | I was 6 years old and the reading from the bible that was shown on the TV news here in the UK is my first memory of the Apollo programme. I'm glad I was around to remember history being made that day... Merry Christmas Ed, Rob (P) and all members on this site... |
mach3valkyrie | I was 11 years old and remember watching the grainy TV transmission from Apollo 8 as it orbited the Moon 44 years ago tonight. What a Christmas Eve that was! Season's Greetings to all! |
Lou Chinal | I don't know if this is accurate but my first thought was they are all looking at the mission timer waiting for Apollo 8 to reappear from the far side of the moon. Did the SPS enging fire or didn't it? Great photo Ed, and a Merry Christmas to cS's everywhere. |
LM-12 | That was my first guess also. But the Apollo 8 transcripts show that Gerald Carr was CapCom for the LOI burn on Day 3, and Ken Mattingly was CapCom for the TEI burn on Day 4. |
sts205cdr | This photo speaks volumes in body language. |
LM-12 | Here is an Apollo 8 video clip from footagevault that looks like it was taken at about the same time as the first photo. The console monitors show either a translunar coast or transearth coast view of the good Earth. There is a GET clock ticking away on the console, but I can't read it. |
Tom | Great video. Just looking at the monitor on console, Apollo 8 seems about half way to the Moon. Video also shows light moments between the astronauts in Mission Control. |
LM-12 | The video is dated Dec. 21 which was launch day. Not sure if that video date is accurate. How far out did they get on the first day? That might be the video clip cameraman in the photo. |
heng44 | The film clip is evidence that the photo was taken during the second telecast on the way to the moon on December 23. Good find! |
LM-12 | Sounds right. I found this later clip which is an over-the-shoulder shot of CapCom Mike Collins. You can clearly see that the mission timer reads 055 25 56 which was Flight Day 3. What does "78" refer to?055 25 50 CDR: Do you still have us , Mike? The lens is off now.055 25 53 CC: Roger. We have it, and if you could maneuver it toward the terminator slightly, you would again center our picture. |
LM-12 | Looks like photo S68-56007 was taken about the same time as the photo of the week. I think the mission clock at top left reads 055 23 47 GET.055 23 43 CC: Roger. Thank you, and it is centered very well. We get a very slight improvement with this, but in general, it is very good considering the distance. How about the moon, Frank? Is it visible through one of your other windows? Could you get it visible with a small maneuver?055 24 05 CDR: Negative. I think we will have to save the moon for another time. |