Apollo 8 Launch
Astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders are moments away from liftoff in the command module atop the Saturn V rocket, embarking on the first manned mission to orbit the Moon. Ground
Setting
Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A, with the towering Saturn V rocket standing on the launch pad, the command module at its apex containing the astronauts. The surrounding area is a vast expanse of concrete and steel structures, with the Atlantic Ocean visible in the distance.
Characters
Frank Borman
primary
A 40-year-old astronaut with a lean, athletic build, short-cropped brown hair, and piercing blue eyes. His face shows the lines of a man accustomed to responsibility and high-stakes situations.
James Lovell
primary
A 40-year-old astronaut with a lean, athletic build, short brown hair, and sharp blue eyes that reflect his keen observational skills. His face shows the beginnings of laugh lines, hinting at his generally affable nature.
William Anders
secondary
A 35-year-old astronaut with a lean, athletic build, clean-cut features, and short brown hair. His face bears the focused intensity of a man trained for precision under pressure.
Flight Director
secondary
A middle-aged man with a lean, wiry build, short-cropped salt-and-pepper hair, and sharp, observant eyes. His face bears the lines of stress and long hours spent in mission control, with a faint tan from Florida sun exposure during outdoor tests.
Technician
background
A middle-aged man in his late 30s, with a lean build and short-cropped hair. His face is weathered from years of working outdoors, and his hands are calloused from handling equipment. He wears a pair of wire-rimmed glasses that constantly slip down his nose.
Dialog
Flight Director
Apollo 8, this is Houston. T-minus 60 seconds and counting. All systems are go.
Frank Borman
Roger that, Houston. Command module systems nominal. Standing by for ignition sequence.
James Lovell
Guidance system locked. This bird's ready to fly.
William Anders
Just remember, gentlemen - first ones to see the dark side of the moon get to name the craters.
Flight Director
T-minus 30 seconds. S-IVB stage pressures nominal. Godspeed, Apollo 8.
Frank Borman
All right boys, let's light this candle.
James Lovell
Roger that. Next stop - lunar orbit.