Apollo 8

Second crewed flight of the United States Apollo program. Apollo 8 was launched on December 21, 1968 aboard a Saturn V from Cape Canaveral & Kennedy. Latest status in GCAT: left Earth orbit for deep space (Dec 23, 1968).

COSPAR 1968-118ANORAD 3626United States

Identity

Name in GCAT: Apollo 8
Payload designation: Apollo CM-103
International designator: 1968-118A
NORAD catalog number: 3626
GCAT identifier: S03626
UN registration: A/AC.105/INF.201

Mission

Mission type: Human spaceflight
Use: Civil government
Program: Apollo II
Owner: MSC
Country: United States
Builder: North American Aviation, Missile Division, Downey
Platform (bus): CM

Launch

Date: December 21, 1968 · 12:51 UTC
Launch record: 1968-118Success
Rocket: Saturn V
Spaceport: Cape Canaveral & Kennedy · pad LC39A

Orbit and fate

Orbit class (GCAT): CLO
Perigee: 214 km
Apogee: 544,356 km
Inclination: 30.71°
Status: Left Earth orbit for deep space
Status date: December 23, 1968
Last known active: Dec 27, 1968
End of operations: Dec 27, 1968

Size

Mass: 5,524 kg
Dry mass: 5,524 kg
Total mass with attached objects: 28.8 t
Length: 3.5 m
Diameter: 3.90 m
Span: 3.9 m

Deep space

Deep-space catalog entry: D00217
Final central body: Luna
Phase start: December 23, 1968
Phase outcome: Entered orbit around the target · December 24, 1968
Destination: Luna

Flight phases

From	Central body	Ended	Outcome	Next
Dec 21, 1968	Earth	Dec 23, 1968	Escaped to another body	Luna
Dec 24, 1968	Luna	Dec 25, 1968	Left orbit around the target	Luna
Dec 25, 1968	Luna	Dec 25, 1968	Escaped to another body	Earth
Dec 25, 1968	Earth	Dec 27, 1968	Landed	165W 08.1N

Source: GCAT payload, deep-space and lander catalogs, Jonathan C. McDowell (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata Q184201 (CC0).