Genesis: The Story of Apollo 8, the First Manned Flight to Another World Author: Bob Zimmerman Segment 1: Setting the Stage: The Cold War and the Genesis of Apollo 8

Genesis: The Story of Apollo 8, the First Manned Flight to Another World Author: Bob Zimmerman Segment 1: Setting the Stage: The Cold War and the Genesis of Apollo 8 In late 1968, Apollo 8 was poised for a mission amidst the global Cold War, a period where both sides held apocalyptic views of each other. President Kennedy had tasked Vice President Lyndon Johnson with the goal of reaching the moon, driving NASA's efforts. This race against Roscosmos, the Soviet program, was a battle of ideologies. The mission's crew, Frank Borman, William Anders, and Jim Lovell, were introduced as men with military backgrounds, ready to embark on what both sides believed was a critical moment for a circumlunar mission or moon landing. 1868 Jules Verne. "Aound the Moon."