# Canonical recap data for Apollo 8: First Crewed Lunar Orbit (1968)
# Source: https://recap.at/1968/apollo-8-lunar-orbit
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: apollo-8-lunar-orbit
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/1968/apollo-8-lunar-orbit"
title: "Apollo 8: First Crewed Lunar Orbit"
subtitle: Apollo 8 became the first crewed spacecraft to orbit the Moon, transmitting the iconic Earthrise photograph and proving manned lunar landing was feasible.
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 1968-01-01
datePrecision: year
year: 1968
decade: 1960
country:
name: United States
slug: united-states
summaryShort: Apollo 15 was the ninth crewed mission in the Apollo program and the fourth Moon landing. It was the first J mission, with a longer stay on the Moon and a greater focus on science than earlier landings. Apollo 15 saw the first use of the Lunar Roving Vehicle.
summaryLong: Apollo 15 was the ninth crewed mission in the Apollo program and the fourth Moon landing. It was the first J mission, with a longer stay on the Moon and a greater focus on science than earlier landings. Apollo 15 saw the first use of the Lunar Roving Vehicle.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/62/AS15-88-11866_-_Apollo_15_flag%2C_rover%2C_LM%2C_Irwin_-_restoration1.jpg/1280px-AS15-88-11866_-_Apollo_15_flag%2C_rover%2C_LM%2C_Irwin_-_restoration1.jpg"
heroImageCredit: Wikipedia · "Apollo 15"
importance: 80
sourceConfidence: 75
keyFacts: []
timeline: []
sources:
- url: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_15"
  title: Apollo Fifteen
  provider: Wikipedia
related: []
categories:
- tech-launch
- launch
metaDescription: Apollo 15 was the ninth crewed mission in the Apollo program and the fourth Moon landing. It was the first J mission, with a longer stay on the Moon and a great
wikidataQid: Q194068
archiveSnapshots:
- url: "https://web.archive.org/web/20260628021729/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_15"
  capturedAt: 2026-06-28
  label: Apollo Fifteen
  originalUrl: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_15"
