The San Diego Air & Space Museum will be hosting two historically significant events in the coming months that you won’t want to miss.

On Dec. 20, 2018 Bill Anders and his wife Valerie will be at the Museum to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Bill’s historic Apollo 8 mission in December 1968, the first manned flight to the moon. In addition to being the first flight to orbit the moon, Apollo 8 also resulted in the iconic “Earthrise," one of the most historic photos ever taken.

Earthrise, one of the most iconic photos in history.

The mission was the second manned spaceflight in the Apollo program, and became the first manned spacecraft to leave Earth orbit, reach the Earth's Moon, orbit the Moon, and return safely to Earth.

The crew of Apollo 8: Frank Borman, Bill Anders, and James Lovell.

The three-astronaut crew — Commander Frank Borman, Command Module Pilot James Lovell, and Lunar Module Pilot William Anders — became the first humans to travel beyond Earth orbit; see Earth as a whole planet; see the far side of the Moon with their own eyes; witness an and witness an Earthrise. The mission was the third flight of the Saturn V and that rocket’s first crewed launch, and was also the first human spaceflight to launch from the Kennedy Space Center.

The second event is on March 13, 2019, the 50^th anniversary of the Apollo 9 mission, which saw James McDivitt, David Scott and Rusty Schweickart take a critical next step on the way to Apollo 11’s eventual moon landing. All three Apollo 9 astronauts, as well as Flight Directors Gene Kranz and Gerry Griffin, are all scheduled to appear at this special evening.

The crew of Apollo 9: James McDivitt, David Scott and Rusty Schweickart.

The actual Apollo 9 capsule on display at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.

Check back to our website for more information about both of these exciting events!