This photograph depicts a busy Launch Control Center at Kennedy Space Center during the Apollo 8 mission prelaunch activities. The first manned Apollo mission launched aboard the Saturn V and first manned Apollo craft to enter lunar orbit, the SA-503, Apollo 8 The crew included astronauts Frank Borman, Commander; William Anders, Lunar Module (LM) Pilot; and James Lovell, Command Module (CM) pilot. The three safely returned to Earth on December 27, 1968. The mission achieved operational experience and tested the Apollo command module systems, including communications, tracking, and life-support, in cis-lunar space and lunar orbit, and allowed evaluation of crew performance on a lunar orbiting mission. The crew photographed the lunar surface, both far side and near side, obtaining information necessary for future Apollo landings. All systems operated within allowable parameters and all objectives of the mission were achieved. 12.21.1968