Editing Apollo 8 (section)

===''Earthrise'' and Genesis broadcast===
{{Main|Earthrise|Apollo 8 Genesis reading}}
[[File:Earthrise.jpg|thumb|The ''[[Earthrise]]'' image]]
[[File:As8 genesis1a.ogv|thumb|Apollo 8's 1968 Christmas Eve [[Apollo 8 Genesis reading|broadcast and reading]] from the [[Book of Genesis]]]]
When the spacecraft came out from behind the Moon for its fourth pass across the front, the crew witnessed an "Earthrise" in person for the first time in human history.<ref name="journal day 4-456" /> NASA's [[Lunar Orbiter 1]] had taken the first picture of an Earthrise from the vicinity of the Moon, on August 23, 1966.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sservi.nasa.gov/articles/the-other-lunar-orbiter-1-earthrise-image/ |title=The 'Other' Lunar Orbiter 1 Earthrise Image |publisher=Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute |access-date=November 28, 2018 }}</ref> Anders saw the Earth emerging from behind the lunar horizon and called in excitement to the others, taking a black-and-white photograph as he did so. Anders asked Lovell for color film and then took ''[[Earthrise]]'', a now famous color photo, later picked by ''[[Life (magazine)|Life]]'' magazine as one of its hundred photos of the century.<ref name="journal day 4-456">{{cite web |url=https://history.nasa.gov/ap08fj/14day4_orbits456.htm |title=Day 4: Lunar Orbits 4, 5 and 6 |last1=Woods |first1=W. David |last2=O'Brien |first2=Frank |date=April 22, 2006 |work=Apollo 8 Flight Journal |publisher=NASA |access-date=September 20, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002204030/https://history.nasa.gov/ap08fj/14day4_orbits456.htm |archive-date=October 2, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/who-took-legendary-earthrise-photo-apollo-8-180967505/ |title=Who Took the Legendary Earthrise Photo From Apollo 8? |magazine=Smithsonian |first=Andrew |last=Chaikin |access-date=November 28, 2018 }}</ref>

Due to the [[tidal locking|synchronous rotation]] of the Moon about the Earth, Earthrise is not generally visible from the lunar surface. This is because, as seen from any one place on the Moon's surface, Earth remains in approximately the same position in the lunar sky, either above or below the horizon. Earthrise is generally visible only while orbiting the Moon, and at selected surface locations near the Moon's [[lunar limb|limb]], where [[libration]] carries the Earth slightly above and below the lunar horizon.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/lro-earthrise-2015 |title=NASA Releases New High-Res Earthrise Image |date=December 16, 2015 |publisher=NASA |access-date=November 28, 2018 }}</ref>

Anders continued to take photographs while Lovell assumed control of the spacecraft so that Borman could rest. Despite the difficulty resting in the cramped and noisy spacecraft, Borman was able to sleep for two orbits, awakening periodically to ask questions about their status. Borman awoke fully when he started to hear his fellow crew members make mistakes. They were beginning to not understand questions and had to ask for the answers to be repeated. Borman realized that everyone was extremely tired from not having a good night's sleep in over three days. He ordered Anders and Lovell to get some sleep and that the rest of the flight plan regarding observing the Moon be scrubbed. Anders initially protested, saying that he was fine, but Borman would not be swayed. Anders finally agreed under the condition that Borman would set up the camera to continue to take automatic pictures of the Moon. Borman also remembered that there was a second television broadcast planned, and with so many people expected to be watching, he wanted the crew to be alert. For the next two orbits, Anders and Lovell slept while Borman sat at the helm.<ref name="journal day 4-456"/>{{sfn|Kluger|2017|pp=240–241}}

[[File:Apollo 8 genesis reading.ogg|left|thumb|[[Apollo 8 Genesis reading]]]]

As they rounded the Moon for the ninth time, the astronauts began the second television transmission. Borman introduced the crew, followed by each man giving his impression of the lunar surface and what it was like to be orbiting the Moon. Borman described it as being "a vast, lonely, forbidding expanse of nothing".{{sfn|De Groot|2006|p=229}} Then, after talking about what they were flying over, Anders said that the crew had a message for all those on Earth. Each man on board [[Apollo 8 Genesis reading|read a section from the Biblical creation story]] from the [[Book of Genesis]]. Borman finished the broadcast by wishing a Merry Christmas to everyone on Earth. His message appeared to sum up the feelings that all three crewmen had from their vantage point in lunar orbit. Borman said, "And from the crew of Apollo{{nbsp}}8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas and God bless all of you—all of you on the good Earth."<ref name="moonport">{{cite book |last1=Benson |first1=Charles D. |last2=Faherty |first2=William Barnaby |title=Moonport: A History of Apollo Launch Facilities and Operations |url=http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4204/contents.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080123133438/http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4204/contents.html |archive-date=January 23, 2008 |access-date=February 7, 2008 |year=1978 |publisher=NASA |id=NASA SP-4204 |chapter=Apollo 8—A Christmas Gift |chapter-url=http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/SP-4204/ch20-9.html |url-status=live}} Ch.20-9.</ref>

The only task left for the crew at this point was to perform the [[trans-Earth injection]] (TEI), which was scheduled for {{frac|2|1|2}} hours after the end of the television transmission. The TEI was the most critical burn of the flight, as any failure of the SPS to ignite would strand the crew in lunar orbit, with little hope of escape. As with the previous burn, the crew had to perform the maneuver above the far side of the Moon, out of contact with Earth.{{sfn|Kluger|2017|pp=250–252}} The burn occurred exactly on time. The spacecraft telemetry was reacquired as it re-emerged from behind the Moon at 89 hours, 28 minutes, and 39 seconds, the exact time calculated. When voice contact was regained, Lovell announced, "Please be informed, there is a [[Santa Claus]]", to which Ken Mattingly, the current CAPCOM, replied, "That's affirmative, you are the best ones to know."<ref name="journal day 4 TEI">{{cite web |url=https://history.nasa.gov/ap08fj/16day4_final_orbit_tei.htm |title=Day 4: Final Orbit and Trans-Earth Injection |last1=Woods |first1=W. David |last2=O'Brien |first2=Frank |date=April 22, 2006 |work=Apollo 8 Flight Journal |publisher=NASA |access-date=February 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116172357/https://history.nasa.gov/ap08fj/16day4_final_orbit_tei.htm |archive-date=January 16, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The spacecraft began its journey back to Earth on December 25, [[Christmas Day]].{{sfn|Orloff|2000|p=39}}