The Good Earth

We have a tradition on the Rocket Team of stopping for a moment on December 25 and thinking about the good Earth. This tradition started back in 1968 with Apollo 8.

Apollo 8 was a daring mission. The plan was to send three astronauts to orbit the moon in 1968 using a barely tested vehicle.

Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders would be the first humans to see the moon up close - including the hidden back side of the moon we never see from Earth.

On December 25, 1968, the crew held their fourth television transmission, and each astronaut discussed their observations.

At the end, just before their spacecraft disappeared behind the moon, commander Borman closed with this: "And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas, and God bless all of you — all of you on the good Earth."

So, on December 25, we all stop and think about the good Earth. Some of us can see it up close on the ground, some see it from low Earth orbit. Some can hide it behind their thumb as they explore the harsh lunar surface.

And some, like me, see it as just a bright dot in the sky of a desert planet.

But it remains home, and it remains good. The good Earth.  Merry Christmas.

Commander Frank Borman (waving) followed by astronauts
Jim Lovell and Bill Anders.  Photo: NASA, 1968