Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger. Apollo 8, Houston. I have a TEI 3, TEI 4, and map update for REV 3 and 4 to read to you. Actually the TEI 3 update which you have on board is still valid, but we will not update that one. Which do you want first, the TEI 4 or the map update?

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Alright. This is the TEI 4 update: SPS/G&N 45695, minus 053, plus 141. Are you with me so far? Over.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Very good. 077:21:27.58, plus 30627, minus 00625, plus 00577 180 018 001, not applicable, plus 00188 30639 256 30452. Are you with me so far? Over.

Frank Borman (CDR)

So far seems … hold it a minute though, will you?

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Okay. The last number I gave was DELTA-VC. Picking up at the sextant star: 40 2730 396 033, down 030, left 19. Are you with me? Over.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Okay. Plus 0858, minus 16500 12960 36195 146:37:21; comments: north set of stars Sirius and Rigel, roll 129, pitch 155, yaw 010, ullage two quad, 20 seconds, two-zero seconds from quads Bravo and Delta; horizon on 2-degree line at tine of ignition minus 3 minutes. Over.

Frank Borman (CDR)

Roger, Houston. We got a TEI 4 SPS/G&N 45695, minus 053 plus 141 077:21:27.58, plus 30627, minus 00625, plus 00577 180 018 001, NA, plus 00188 30639 256 30452 40 2730 396 033, down 030, left 19, plus 0858, minus 16500, plus 12960, plus 36195 146:37:21; Sirius, Rigel, 129 155 010, two quads, 20 seconds B and D, horizon 2 degrees at TIG minus 3.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

That's about the size of it, Frank, and a map update for REV's 3/4 when you are ready.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

REV's 3/4: LOS 75:01:23, sunrise 75:10:16, prime meridian 75:17:16, AOS 75:47:18, sunset 76:23:11; remarks: subsolar point 75:46:55, IP-1 acquisition 76:11:17, IP-2 acquisition 76:12:30. For IP-1 and 2, those ACQ times are for shaft and trunnion angles equals zero. Over.

Frank Borman (CDR)

Roger. Thank you. 75:01:23 75:10:16 75:17:16 75:47:18 76:23:11, subsolar 75:46:55, IP-1 76:11:17, IP-2 76:12:30, and at shaft and trunnion at 0.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

That's affirmative, Frank.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger. When Bill gets a minute, we'd like to get battery B started charging. Over.

Frank Borman (CDR)

Roger. Thank you. He'll take a minute right now.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger. For Bill—the voice quality on the backside DSE is extremely poor. We consider it unusable, and we recommend that all pertinent comments be hand recorded so we don't lose them. We should not count on using the tape at low bit rate for voice.

Bill Anders (LMP)

Okay, Houston. We're getting so busy that we are having a hard time trying to do a neat job of logging. I'll try to do it on the flight plan; and if I make any visual observations, we'll put them on the DSE, and I'll try to scribble some notes here and there.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger. Understand. Now high bit rate is working great.

Frank Borman (CDR)

Hey, Houston, Apollo 8.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Apollo 8, Houston. Over.

Frank Borman (CDR)

How about giving us the TV times for the ninth REV, will you please?

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Yes, we sure will, Frank. Stand by.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger. We were checking into precise start and stop times for TV, and you are GO for the next REV. Over.

Frank Borman (CDR)

I understand; go for the next REV. Mike, we'd like to, if we could, time the TV to a passing over the terminator. We would like to track the terminator with the TV; think that's the most impressive thing we've seen, and that might be the best thing rather than trying to acquire the earth.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Okay, Frank. That's one of the things we are looking at right now. We have you ending at about 86 hours, and we're looking at extending that few minutes to include that terminator view. Over.

Frank Borman (CDR)

Okay. I don't want us to run into REV 10 very much at all, though.

Bill Anders (LMP)

… since the DSE qual is not so good. How do you read, Mike?

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

I read you loud and clear. You were cut out about the DSE. Say again.

Bill Anders (LMP)

Roger. Since the qual isn't so good, let me give you a quick rundown of the status of photo targets. You ready to copy?

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Bill Anders (LMP)

Okay. At REV 1, we got photo target 90 and terminator photography south for near-side terminator. Starting on REV 2, we've got target 12 and targets 10, 14, 16, 19, 20, 21, and 23. Unfortunately, we got into a high—I got into the high-speed film there somewhere, and I think those 250mm targets were on high speed. We did change film, and starting out in Tex—Crater, Texas, with target 28, 31, 40, 36, plus several targets of opportunity that were recorded on the DSE, but apparently lost. Have you been able to copy?

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Yes, I'm with you, Bill. Keep going.

Bill Anders (LMP)

Okay. I might be calling up too fast. Okay. On the third REV, we got target 58 and 63 and 65. The training photography was accomplished, and it was done on magazine D, which now has—correction, that's magazine E—which now shows 95 exposures. Magazine D is fresh. Magazine K was also used for training photography, and it's showing 0.51.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger. We copy all that, Bill.

Frank Borman (CDR)

… Mike, this is Frank again.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Apollo 8, Houston standing by.

Frank Borman (CDR)

I said is Rod Rose around?

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Stand by one, Frank; we'll look for him, and while we're doing that, for Bill the DSE voice quality on high bit rate is very good, so if he wants to use the DSE in high bit rate for a limited amount of time to record important things, we suggest that he do that. We would like him to wait 20 seconds after turning it on prior to talking. Over.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Rod Rose is sitting up in the viewing room; he can hear what you say.

Frank Borman (CDR)

I wonder if he is ready for experiment P1?

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

He says thumbs up on P1.

Bill Anders (LMP)

Houston, with reference to the DSE on high bit rate, what I would like to do this is—if you got the last pass—I'd like to play it—run it back and start at AOS on low bit rate and then go to high when we need it. How would that be?

Frank Borman (CDR)

Okay, Mike. This is Frank again.

Frank Borman (CDR)

Roger. Rod and I got together, and I was going to record a little—say a little prayer for our church service tonight. And I wonder—I guess that's what we are ready on?

Frank Borman (CDR)

Houston, Apollo 8. Are you still there?

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

You're still loud and clear, Frank.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Apollo 8, Houston. Go ahead, Frank, with your message.

Frank Borman (CDR)

Okay. This is to Rod Rose and the people at St. Christopher's, actually to people everywhere. Give us, O God, the vision which can see thy love in the world, in spite of human failure. Give us the faith to trust the goodness in spite of our ignorance and weakness. Give us the knowledge that we may continue to pray with understanding hearts, and show us what each one of us can do to set forth the coming of the day of universal PEACE. Amen.

Frank Borman (CDR)

I was supposed to lay-read tonight, and I couldn't quite make it.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger. I think they understand.

Frank Borman (CDR)

Houston, how do you read? Apollo 8.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Apollo 8, Houston. Over.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger. Frank, we'd like to know about the water chlorination. Have you—when was the last time you chlorinated the water? Over.

Frank Borman (CDR)

About an hour and a half ago; we've already done it.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger. We copy you an hour and a half ago. Affirmative?

Frank Borman (CDR)

Roger. You know we wouldn't forget that.

Frank Borman (CDR)

Jim spilled a little, and it smelled like a bucket of Clorox about an hour ago.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Apollo 8, Houston. Say again.

Frank Borman (CDR)

I said Jim inadvertently spilled some of that chlorine, and it smelled like a bucket of Clorox in here for a little while.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Apollo 8, Houston. Over.

Frank Borman (CDR)

Go ahead, Houston. Apollo 8.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger. We have two and a half minutes to LOS, and all systems are looking good. Everything is looking just fine down here, Frank.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

We'll have some more information on the TV on the next rev. We're not planning any big change in the time, just to extend them a little bit, I think, closer to the terminator.

Frank Borman (CDR)

Just give us the time, will you, because we just want to know when it is. I'd like to get the terminator if we could, and we've got a little message, and that's it.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger. We'll do that the next time you come around.

Frank Borman (CDR)

Thank you. Okay. And have the EECOM guys keep a sharp watch on our systems. Old Anders is so busy fooling around with these pictures that—not much else is getting done.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger. The EECOM is doing that.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Apollo 8, this is Houston. Over.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Apollo 8, this is Houston. Over.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Apollo 8, this is Houston. Over.

Frank Borman (CDR)

Go ahead, Houston. Apollo 8 here.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger. We have been having a little antenna problem on the ground here. We are reading you now with a lot of noise in the background. How me?

Frank Borman (CDR)

Loud and clear, Michael.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger. Frank, we are still trying to get a little bit better COMM here. Stand by; you're unreadable.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Apollo 8, this is Houston. Over.

Frank Borman (CDR)

Loud and clear, Houston. Apollo 8.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

I understand you are reading us loud and clear; we are barely reading you. Would you go to P00 in ACCEPT, please? We are going to send you a P27 update.

Frank Borman (CDR)

Roger. Going to P00 and to ACCEPT, Houston.

Frank Borman (CDR)

We are in P00 and ACCEPT.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Apollo 8, Houston. You are not readable. We are going to delay the P27 until we get a little bit better lock on you.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

As long as you're reading me okay, Frank, I'll bring you up to date on a couple of things. The P27 which we will be sending you is a state vector update going to the LM slot, and we'd like to—as per plan—to transfer that to the CSM slot by a VERB 47 ENTER, and we would like to just remind you that prior to doing your VERB 47 ENTER manually select P00 and wait for the computer activity light to go out. Did you copy? Over.

Frank Borman (CDR)

Roger. Roger. We copy.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Okay, Frank. Are you still reading me loud and clear? Over.

Frank Borman (CDR)

Roger. Loud and clear.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Alright. I'll go ahead with a map update when you're ready to copy.

Frank Borman (CDR)

Okay. Can you hold off a minute?

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Apollo 8, this is Houston. How are you reading now?

Frank Borman (CDR)

Go ahead, Houston. This is Apollo 8.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Apollo 8, this is Houston with a map update. Are you ready to copy?

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger. Apollo 8, Houston. Your map update for REV 4/5: LOS 76:59:59, sunrise 77:09:06, prime meridian 77:15:47, AOS 77:45:50, sunset 78:22:03; IP-1 position time for control point 2, 77:29:42; IP-1 time closest approach for target B-1, 78:10:25. Over.

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Spoken on Dec. 24, 1968, 3:32 p.m. UTC (55 years, 10 months ago). Link to this transcript range is: Tweet

Frank Borman (CDR)

We'll have to get that data later on.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

We'll try it again later, Frank.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Apollo 8, this is Houston. Over.

Bill Anders (LMP)

Do you want to take this NAV sighting?

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Apollo 8, this is Houston. Over.

Bill Anders (LMP)

Roger, Houston. How do you read?

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Reading you a lot better, Bill. How are you reading me?

Bill Anders (LMP)

I'm reading you five—loud and clear, and you copying our low bit data to record these tracking passes? Over.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

That is affirmative. We are getting low bit data now.

Bill Anders (LMP)

Okay. I've played—run the tape recorder back to the beginning. We have quite a bit of high bit, so all you'll have to do is start recording when you are ready.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger. Stand by one, Bill.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Apollo 8, Houston. Stand by one on the tape recorder dump. We would like you to look at your steam pressure. We think that the primary evaporator may have dried out, and if the steam pressure shows off-scale low, would you please close the back pressure valve and reservice the evaporator? Over.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Apollo 8, Houston. We are ready to send you the P27 LM state vector update when you are ready. Over.

Frank Borman (CDR)

You will have to wait until this tracking exercise is over with, Mike.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Apollo 8, this is Houston. Were you calling? Over.

Bill Anders (LMP)

Roger. You can go ahead now and give you computer and get the updates, and let's get going on the PAD messages.

Bill Anders (LMP)

It is in P00 and ACCEPT.

Bill Anders (LMP)

Okay, Houston. Are you ready to talk about the water boiler problem?

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger. We copy you in P00 and ACCEPT, and we are sending you a P27 LM state vector. On the water boiler, it looks to us like the evaporator has been reserviced. How does it look to you? Over.

Bill Anders (LMP)

Roger. I reserviced it, put it to AUTO—H2O flow to AUTO; and the steam pressure went to zero again. So I tried reservicing it the second time for 1 minute, and again no results. I'm in the present process of closing the back pressure valve manually. Over.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger. Understand you tried to reservice it twice, both times steam pressure has gone to zero, and now you are closing the back pressure valve manually.

Bill Anders (LMP)

Roger. Each time I have reserviced it, the steam pressure came up to about 0.07 to 0.1; but as soon as the steam and water were put to AUTO, the steam pressure went right back down again.