Bill Anders (LMP)

We always have the same smear to look through. The rendezvous windows are okay, but they're so small and looking in the wrong directions here so far.

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Spoken on Dec. 24, 1968, 9:01 p.m. UTC (55 years, 11 months ago). Link to this transcript range is: Tweet

Bill Anders (LMP)

I think the vertical stereo will be okay.

Bill Anders (LMP)

It certainly looks like we're picking the more interesting places on the moon to land in. The backside looks like a sand pile my kids have been playing in for a long time. It's all beat up, no definition. Just a lot of bumps and holes.

Jim Lovell (CMP)

I'm looking at 2P-2 right now, Houston, and it's a great spot.

Bill Anders (LMP)

The area we're over right now gives some hint of possible volcanic, though I really can't eyeball it at the moment to pin that down. There are some craters and buildups that just definitely suggest volcanic activity.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger. Understand, Bill, and understand Jim thinks the old 2P-2 is a winner.

Bill Anders (LMP)

Yes, that backside doesn't look good at all.

Bill Anders (LMP)

That's relatively speaking, of course.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger, Jim. We have you on the high-gain antenna. We'd like you to take the DSE and dump it over.

Jim Lovell (CMP)

Roger, Houston. Are you going to use our computer to update our state vector?

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

That's affirmative, Jim. We'd like to—stand by one, and I'll tell you when to go to P00 and ACCEPT.

Jim Lovell (CMP)

Roger. Then I'll work my 52 around your …

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Jim, would you please go to P00 in ACCEPT, and we'll send you a P27 and run a state vector update.

Jim Lovell (CMP)

Roger. You have P00 in ACCEPT.

Jim Lovell (CMP)

Houston, this is Apollo 8. We have a little piece of useful information if you're interested in deliberating over it.

Jim Lovell (CMP)

Roger. Our first control point is very near the terminator, and as the optics were tracking it, I had occasion to watch the sun come up. And at about 2 minutes before sunrise, you get—the limb begins to brighten up into sort of a fine white haze, a fine glow completely over the space just behind the limb.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger. I understand. About 2 minutes before the sun comes up, you get a fine white haze radiating out from behind the limb. How far out does it extend?

Jim Lovell (CMP)

It goes up quite a ways. It takes a fan shape, unlike the sunrise on earth where the atmosphere affects it. This just sort of is a complete haze all over the local area. It's concentrated at the exact spot where the sun comes up at ignition and then goes away from the sun spots. Very interesting.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Thank you, Jim. Thank you.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Apollo 8, Houston. We're standing by with your map and TEI 7 updates.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Apollo 8, Houston. You can go back to BLOCK with your computer.

Bill Anders (LMP)

Okay, Mike. We're ready for the map update and then the TEI.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Okay. When you get your—before you get your map book out, the Houston COMM TECHS have got a little word for an old ex-CAP COMM. They say they consider you in NONREMOTE. Over.

Bill Anders (LMP)

Not permanently, I hope.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Okay. Your map update for REV 6/7: LOS 80:57:24, sunrise 81:06:57, prime meridian 81:13:02. Are you with me?

Bill Anders (LMP)

You cut out after the prime meridian. I got it, but not AOS.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

AOS 81:43:05, sunset 82:13:54. Remarks: IP-1 TCA for B-1 82:07:39, and now I've got four more times for you which—acquisition times for when various things come over the horizon. Over.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Okay. Control point 1, acquisition time 81:09:05; control point 2, acquisition time 81:21:48; control point 3, acquisition time 81:43:17. B-1 acquisition time 82:03:54. And I say again all those ACQ times are when they first come over the horizon. Over.

Bill Anders (LMP)

Roger. Copy, Houston. In about 2 seconds, I'll be ready for the TEI.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

TEI 7, SPS/G&N—stand by one, Bill.

Bill Anders (LMP)

Just a matter of general interest, Houston: everybody is feeling good, and the CDR is taking a snooze.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger. Glad to hear it. We were just talking about a water dump down here. We've got one coming up, and it looks like on this REV prior to the time around LOS or just prior to LOS, would be a convenient time to do it. Do you concur?

Bill Anders (LMP)

Okay. We will. Down to 25 percent again?

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

That's affirmative, and we'd also be interested in any comments about what these various dumps have done to your optics, if anything, and how long the effects last after a dump.

Bill Anders (LMP)

Don't seem to have done anything to the optics, but they've definitely got in some of the windows. There are a few little chunks of ice on window number 1, which is nearest the vent, and also on window number 5 a little bit; windows 2 and 4 remain amazingly clear.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Roger. Thank you, Bill, and I'm ready to resume the PAD when you are.

Bill Anders (LMP)

Okay. Press on with the weight.

Mike Collins (CAPCOM)

Alright. Weight 45701, minus 040, plus 157 083:18:20.80, plus 32346, minus 01168, plus 05730. Are you with me so far? Over.