Apollo Moon Landing

The very questionable Apollo 8 timeline

The Apollo 8 mission, which took place from December 21 to December 27, 1968, marked the second manned Apollo flight, the first manned Saturn V launch and first Lunar Orbital flight. However, the Apollo 8 project raises several questions. Surprisingly, the initial plan for the Apollo 8 flight was for it to be an unmanned Low Earth Orbit mission. This begs the question, how did it become a manned Lunar Orbit mission?

To understand this peculiar situation, let's look at the previous flights and tests. Apollo 8, as mentioned earlier, was the second manned Apollo flight. The first manned flight, Apollo 7, took place from October 11 to October 22, 1968, but it used the lighter Saturn II rocket to reach Low Earth Orbit. However, what many may not know is that Apollo 8 marked the first manned Saturn V launch. Only two unmanned test launches of the Saturn V rocket were done, Apollo 4 on November 9, 1967 and Apollo 6 on April 4, 1968.

Adding to the complexity, the objectives for Apollo 8 underwent three changes in just four months. Initially planned as an unmanned mission in Low Earth Orbit, it then shifted to a manned Low Earth Orbital mission, and eventually transformed into a Lunar Orbital Mission. The lack of testing and the rapid changes do not improve the credibility of the Apollo 8 mission.

Saturn Rockets

The Saturn rocket program began with the Saturn I, which conducted ten launches from 1961 to 1965. This smaller rocket was designed to transport relatively light payloads into Low Earth Orbit. Following the Saturn I, the Saturn IB emerged, completing nine missions between 1966 and 1975 and serving as an Earth orbital carrier, also referred to as Saturn II. However, it lacked the power necessary to send an Apollo spacecraft beyond Low Earth Orbit. The program culminated with the Saturn V, operational from 1967 to 1973 with a total of thirteen launches, which NASA asserts was instrumental in landing humans on the moon.[1] Notably, prior to any Saturn V launches, newspapers highlighted concerns regarding the Apollo Saturn V's status, Dutch newspaper article published on November 18, 1966, reads in summary:

Apollo project Delayed [2]

According this news article, NASA gave the following reasons for the delays:

Failure of the cooling system of the first manned Apollo spacecraft, now being tested at Cape Kennedy
Rupture of an Apollo spacecraft fuel tank, being tested in California for the first unmanned flight of the Saturn V
Serious leaks in the liquefied hydrogen gas-powered second stage of the Saturn V, which is being prepared for the first test flight

Source: November 18,. 1966, De Tijd [2]

The first three Apollo flights

To understand the coding system used by NASA for the Apollo-Saturn project, one must first familiarize oneself with the designations that begin with SA or AS, where A represents Apollo and S Saturn. Following this prefix, a number such as 203 appears, with the initial digit indicating the Saturn II rocket and the subsequent digits denoting the flight number. For instance, Apollo 11 is designated as AS-506, which translates to Apollo/Saturn, Saturn V rocket, and flight number 06. However, there remains ambiguity regarding the Apollo 2 and 3 missions, as NASA has not provided clarification, leading to public speculation about their nature. Some NASA enthusiasts refer to certain flights as Apollo 2 and Apollo 3, which were actually launched prior to Apollo 1. This has resulted in considerable confusion, with NASA inadvertently creating a complex situation where up to four different flight numbers were assigned to the same mission.[1]

Apollo 1

The scheduled flight AS-204, marking the inaugural Apollo mission propelled by a Saturn II rocket, aimed to send for the first time three astronauts into Low Earth Orbit on February 21, 1967. Tragically, during a pre-launch test on January 27, 1967, Command Pilot Gus Grissom, Senior Pilot Ed White, and Pilot Roger B. Chaffee lost their lives in a fire. In honor of the astronauts, NASA designated the mission as Apollo 1.[1]

Apollo 2

Apollo 2, designated SA-202 and AS-202, was an unmanned mission utilizing the Saturn II rocket. Initially scheduled for July 1966, the launch was postponed to August 25, 1966, due to the unavailability of a component for the Apollo program. Consequently, Apollo 2 took place after the Apollo 3 mission. This flight served to test the Apollo command and service module.[3] Total mission time was 1 hour, 33 minutes, and 2 seconds.

Apollo 3

Apollo 3, designated SA-203 and AS-203, was an unmanned mission powered by the Saturn-IB rocket that took place on July 5, 1966. The flight was unintentionally terminated after completing four orbits due to a differential pressure test that surpassed the established design limits. The mission lasted for approximately six hours.[3]

Apollo 4

Apollo 4, designated SA-501, AS-501 and Flight A, was an unmanned mission and marked the inaugural test of the Saturn V heavy lift rocket. Initially planned for early 1967, the launch was postponed to November 9 of that year due to various complications with spacecraft components and difficulties encountered during pre-flight evaluations. Additionally, further inspections were mandated in the aftermath of the Apollo 1 tragedy in January 1967. Ultimately, the Apollo 4 Saturn V test flight was successfully conducted, with the command module making a safe splashdown in the Pacific Ocean after 8 hours and 37 minutes, in accordance with NASA's planned timeline.[4]

Apollo 5

Apollo 5, designated SA204 and AS204, which took off on January 22, 1968, marked the inaugural unmanned flight of the Apollo Lunar Module (LM), carried by the Saturn IB rocket. Although the mission was successful, it had to adapt to computer issues, resulting in a different mission than initially intended. The flight lasted for 11 hours and 10 minutes.[1]

Apollo 6

Apollo 6, designated SA-502, AS-502 and Flight B, represented the second unmanned test of the Saturn V rocket and resulted in significant disappointment. Launched on April 4, 1968, the mission encountered issues almost immediately, as reported by various newspapers. Just two minutes into the flight, two of the five second stage engines shut down unexpectedly. During the critical third stage, which was meant to facilitate Translunar Injection (TLI) and simulate a lunar approach, severe complications arose due to damaged pipes that led to leaks, ultimately causing the failure of this essential phase. The disappointment among NASA flight controllers was palpable following this unforeseen setback, as noted in a report from July 31, 1968, in De Tijd.[5]

The Apollo 6 mission appeared to mirror earlier issues highlighted in a 1966 newspaper article, including leaking tanks and engine failures, suggesting a regression in NASA's Apollo moon landing efforts.[2] The total duration of the flight was 9 hours, 57 minutes, and 20 seconds.

1968 Flights Renumbered

As reported in a June 13, 1968 news article. NASA had recently announced a new schedule, according to which the Saturn V rockets related to the Apollo program will no longer be numbered, but indicated by a letters. The first Saturn V (Apollo 4), which was already launched in November 1967, will become flight A, the second Saturn V flight from April 1968 (Apollo 6) will become flight B. The third Saturn V launch will be the Flight C, the first attempt to reach the moon will be Flight F.[6]

Apollo 7

Apollo 7 designated SA-205 and AS-205, the inaugural manned mission of the Apollo program utilizing the Saturn II rocket, was an eleven-day operation conducted in Low Earth Orbit from October 11 to 22. The mission faced several challenges, as reported by global media outlets. During its 48th orbit, the spacecraft was intentionally placed into a lower orbit as a precaution against electrical system failures. A moment of panic had occurred the previous day when the electrical system experienced an overload, which was subsequently rectified. To mitigate risks, NASA opted for a lower orbit to facilitate a possible emergency landing that would require less fuel. The mission ultimately lasted 10 days, 20 hours, and 9 minutes.[7]

Before looking into the specifics of the Apollo 8 mission, it is essential to recap the significant points previously established. Apollo 4 marked the inaugural launch of the Saturn V on November 9, 1967, with a total flight duration of 8 hours and 37 minutes, during which NASA reported minimal issues. In contrast, Apollo 6, the second unmanned Saturn V launch on April 4, 1969, faced severe challenges, leaving flight controllers at NASA astonished and disheartened by the unexpected failures; this mission lasted 9 hours and 57 minutes.

Collectively, the first two Saturn V launches, Apollo 4 and Apollo 6, accounted for a total flight time of 18 hours and 34 minutes. The Saturn V, a complex three-stage rocket, underwent just under 19 hours of testing in total, with all pre-Apollo 8 launches being unmanned, except for Apollo 7, which utilized a Saturn II.

While NASA asserts that all components of the Saturn V were individually tested, the Apollo 6 mission illustrated the potential consequences of integrating these parts, as it experienced engine failures, pipe leaks, and computer malfunctions. Additionally, while it is true that the Mercury and Gemini programs contributed to testing Apollo materials, the Saturn V was the sole rocket capable of transporting humans to the Moon, and its testing was insufficient, as evidenced by the aforementioned issues.

The following video shows Wernher Von Braun, explaining the complex Saturn V launch, remember that none of the assertions made were validated through a comprehensive test; rather, only individual components were evaluated during various unmanned low Earth orbit flights. [18 Credit video, Redstone Arsenal Video Archives]

Apollo 8

Apollo 8, designated SA-503, AS-503 and Flight C, was launched on December 21, 1968. This mission marked the second manned flight of the Apollo program and the inaugural manned launch of the Saturn V rocket. Remarkably, the first manned Saturn V launch was aiming straight for the moon? We will examine the NASA website for information on the planning and launch operations of Apollo 8.

“When AS-503 – the third Saturn V – was erected on 20 December 1967, it had been scheduled for the unmanned launch of a boilerplate Apollo in May 1968. By late January the launch team had stacked the remaining stages on mobile launcher 1. Despite the success of Apollo 4, the flight hardware still carried considerable research instrumentation. As the Apollo 6 mission neared, KSC hastened to complete the integrated testing of AS-503 in the assembly building. Admiral B. O. Middleton, KSC’s Apollo Program Manager, had informed Phillips that, if Apollo 6 failed and another unmanned Saturn V were needed, AS-503 could roll out to the pad within ten days. Final preparations for the move were held pending analysis of the Apollo 6 flight test data and the decision whether AS-503 would be manned or not. KSC’s chance to demonstrate the relative speed and economy of the mobile concept disappeared in the ripples created by pogo.”[8]

NASA confirms that the initial objective for Apollo 8 was to conduct an unmanned orbital flight around Earth in May 1968. However, a decision was subsequently made to transform this mission into a manned Earth orbital endeavor.

“Despite the disappointment of the Apollo 6 flight, NASA was reasonably confident in its analysis of the Saturn V problems. On 23 April, Mueller recommended a revised Apollo schedule to Administrator Webb, including provisions to man Apollo 8. The next day in a press briefing at NASA Headquarters, Phillips stated that, in spite of the problems, Apollo 6 had been a safe mission. He supported Mueller's recommendation by advocating that NASA prepare for a manned flight late in 1968 on the third Saturn V with the option to revert to an unmanned mission if corrections did not meet the requirements felt necessary to ensure crew safety."[8]

And

"Administrator Webb agreed on 17 August to man Apollo 8 for an earth-orbital mission, but postponed the decision on a circumlunar mission until after the Apollo 7 flight. The launch of Apollo 8 was set for 6 December.[9]

On August 17, 1968, Apollo 8 was still intended to be a manned mission orbiting Earth, scheduled for December of that year. The pivotal decision to transform this mission into a lunar orbital mission was made shortly thereafter, following the conclusion of Apollo 7 on October 22. Just six days post-splashdown, NASA detailed the process leading to a conclusive decision regarding the next manned Apollo mission during the week of November 11. Dr. Thomas O. Paine, the acting Administrator, stated that the ultimate choice to send Apollo 8 around the moon would follow a comprehensive evaluation of the associated risks and potential benefits, emphasizing the commitment to conduct the most advanced mission feasible without compromising crew safety.[10]

And

“On 12 November NASA made its decision public - Apollo 8 would fly a lunar-orbital mission beginning 21 December.” [10]

It is indeed intriguing to consider the changes made to the mission of Apollo 8. Originally intended as an unmanned flight in low Earth orbit, the mission was subsequently revised into a manned low Earth orbital flight. Remarkably, on November 12, 1968, it was further transformed into a lunar orbital mission. This rapid shift from an Earth-centric mission to one that circled the moon must bring into question the legitimacy of such a modification.

A review of the documents on the NASA website indicates that the agency was under considerable pressure to adhere to tight deadlines. Nevertheless, it is crucial to recognize that if transitioning from a Low Earth Orbit to a lunar orbit were genuinely as straightforward as NASA insists with Apollo 8, it would be a certainty that other space agencies would have pursued similar missions. However, no other space agency has attempted a manned lunar orbital mission in over 55 years. One might also question why the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact nations did not challenge the Apollo 8 lunar orbit flights, or why there were no whistle-blowers in the United States or the United Kingdom? Well..........

Warnings from Russia

December 23, 1968, Het Parool. Prof Petrov, head of the Russian space research institute warning.

MOSCOW (DPA / AFP) The Russian scholar G. Petrov wished the Apollo 8 flight all the best. Petrov, who is the head of the space research institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, writes in Prawda that it should not be forgotten that the Apollo 8 flight takes place during a period of high solar activity, and that the three American astronauts can therefore be exposed to high doses of radiation. Petrouv believes that the Apollo 8 flight is near the flight path of the Russian space probes Zond 5 and 6. One of the peculiarities of the Apollo system is that man apparently plays the main role in the control of the spacecraft, according to Petrow. The Soviet Union, he adds, is currently developing systems that can both function automatically and be operated manually. [11]

The subsequent video segment is extracted from the live CBS News Apollo 8 broadcast. A correspondent based in Moscow reiterates the cautions presented in the newspaper article. [15 Credit video CBS]

Warnings from Poland

December 12, 1969, Nederlands dagblad. Two Polish professors, Apollo 8 astronauts at great risk.

WARSAW - Two Polish scholars have stated that in their opinion the Apollo 8 flight has no scientific purpose, also they say that the flight around the moon is too early and therefore the three astronauts are at risk. The criticism comes from Prof. Piotrowski, head of the space research committee of the Polish Academy of Sciences and Prof. Paczkowski, chairman of the space commission.[12]

Warnings from The United Kingdom

December 21, 1969, De Tijd. British Astronomer Sir Bernard Lovell called Apollo 8 utterly absurd.

Apollo 8 moon journey is "utterly absurd" says Sir Bernard Lovell

LONDON, Nov. (AFP) - The director of the British radio observatory in Jodrell Bank, Sir Bernard Lovell, sharply condemned the planned journey to the moon of three spacemen on board Apollo 8, by calling it "utterly absurd." In an interview with the London newspaper "Evening News" he stated that there is a big chance that the three astronauts never return to earth, or even if they do, they will die when they re-entered earth's atmosphere, at that time it is operating with a speed of 40,000 km per hour. No human being can survive this he said.

Lovell had previously stated that the Russians have solved the issue of returning to earth by a method of bouncing against the higher layers of the atmosphere, like the Zond 6 had done previously. He added however that the Russians are very cautious with their manned space flights.[13]

A few days after the publication of the news article, Sir Bernard Lovell participated in a live CBS Apollo 8 broadcast hosted by Walter Cronkite. During this segment, Sir Lovell is clearly uncomfortable. Later John Glenn joins, contributing only via audio and persistently urges Sir Bernard Lovell to issue an apology. After Lovell complied and retracted what he had said, Glenn continued his monologue until the live connection with the UK was abruptly cut off. [14 Credit video CBS]

Warnings from United States

During the CBS live broadcast of Apollo 8, Gordon Barnes, the Chief of WCBS, inquired about the potential consequences if the Apollo capsule encountered adverse weather conditions upon its return to Earth. Interestingly, Walter Cronkite attempted to respond to the question rather than suggesting that CBS pose it to NASA for clarification. The inquiry posed by Gordon Barnes was particularly pertinent, as the launch of Blue Origin was postponed on January 11, 2025, due to.... [15 Credit video CBS]

Blue Origin's inaugural flight of the heavy-lift orbital launch vehicle, New Glenn, was postponed, due to rough seas, which would have precluded a booster recovery.[16]

Conclusion

Apollo 8 marked the inaugural manned launch of the Saturn V rocket and represented the second manned Apollo flight. Initially intended as an unmanned low Earth orbit mission, it was unexpectedly transformed into a lunar orbital mission without the need of a flawless Saturn V test flight. This mission changes are, even by todays space flight standards, unusual. If such an undertaking were as uncomplicated as it was made to seem by Apollo 8, the other nations engaged in space exploration would have already achieved manned lunar orbits a long time ago. Apollo 8 raises the possibility of staging a lunar orbital mission as a serious consideration, suggesting that the primary objective may have been to assess global reactions to a simulated lunar mission.

A newspaper article from December 12, 1969, reveals that the problems that had plagued the Apollo Saturn V program were still not solved merely ten days before the launch of Apollo 8.

"A leak has been discovered in an engine of the first stage of the rocket that is to lift the "Apollo-8" on December 21. The US Aerospace Agency (NASA) has informed that this will not affect the launch of the "Apollo-8", which will make a trip around the moon with three astronauts on board. Extensive tests were carried out last night to determine the extent of the difficulties. Today they would decide what should be done."[19]