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[Apollo 8] DEEP SPACE 'FIREFLIES' AROUND THE S-IVB STAGE AS HUMANITY FIRST ESCAPES EARTH'S GRAVITY James Lovell, 21-27 December 1968 image 1
[Apollo 8] DEEP SPACE 'FIREFLIES' AROUND THE S-IVB STAGE AS HUMANITY FIRST ESCAPES EARTH'S GRAVITY James Lovell, 21-27 December 1968 image 2
[Apollo 8] DEEP SPACE 'FIREFLIES' AROUND THE S-IVB STAGE AS HUMANITY FIRST ESCAPES EARTH'S GRAVITY James Lovell, 21-27 December 1968 image 3
Lot 161

[Apollo 8] DEEP SPACE 'FIREFLIES' AROUND THE S-IVB STAGE AS HUMANITY FIRST ESCAPES EARTH'S GRAVITY
James Lovell, 21-27 December 1968

14 – 28 April 2025, 12:00 CEST
Paris, Avenue Hoche

Sold for €640 inc. premium

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[Apollo 8] DEEP SPACE 'FIREFLIES' AROUND THE S-IVB STAGE AS HUMANITY FIRST ESCAPES EARTH'S GRAVITY

James Lovell, 21-27 December 1968

Printed 1968.

Vintage chromogenic print on fibre-based Kodak paper [NASA image AS8-16-2583].
With "A Kodak Paper" watermark on the reverse (issued by NASA / North American Rockwell, Downey, California). (North American Rockwell was NASA's prime contractor for the Apollo Command and Service Modules).

20.3 x 25.4 cm. (8 x 10 in.)

Historical context
This striking photograph captures the first-ever spacecraft manoeuvres conducted by humans in deep space, featuring the expended third stage of the mighty Saturn V rocket—the very engine that propelled Apollo 8 beyond Earth's gravity for the first time in history—drifting through the dark void.
Taken by James Lovell from the Command Module after translunar injection and separation, the image shows the S-IVB stage as Apollo 8 manoeuvred to inspect it following detachment.
A dazzling display of sunlight reflecting off small particles released during separation creates the "firefly" phenomenon, first reported by John Glenn during his Mercury-Atlas 6 mission, adding a mesmerizing, almost surreal effect to the scene.

Footnotes

Literature
National Geographic, May 1969, p. 610

Watch more
CLICK HERE: NASA APOLLO 8 MANNED SPACE FLIGHT REPORT 1968 LUNAR MISSION 63124

Additional information

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