Smithsonian, NASA Reflect on 'Spirit of Apollo' at National Cathedral

apollo spirit national cathedral
“We are blessed enough to be stewards of our very own piece of the moon here at the cathedral that is embedded in our Space Window on the south side of the cathedral and it is lit up tonight," said Reverend Randy Hollerith, the dean of Washington National Cathedral, at "The Spirit of Apollo" on Dec. 11, 2018. (Image credit: NASA TV)

Standing beneath a stained glass window embedded with a piece of the moon, Jim Lovell recalled his journey into lunar orbit 50 years ago.

"In this cathedral, my world exists within these walls," said Lovell. "But seeing the Earth at 240,000 miles, my world suddenly expanded to infinity."

The Apollo 8 astronaut, who in December 1968 launched on the first mission to fly humans to the moon, spoke at Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday evening (Dec. 11), reflecting on his flight's 50th anniversary at a public event billed by the Smithsonian as "The Spirit of Apollo." [Moon Memories: Thousands of Apollo Photos Released Online]

Lovell joined the director of the National Air and Space Museum, Ellen Stofan, and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine in commemorating the Apollo 8 mission, which famously included a Christmas Eve reading from the Book of Genesis live from lunar orbit.

"Apollo 8 was full of surprises. We knew we were going to the moon. But hearing the story of creation beaming down to us on Christmas Eve, even the steely-eyed flight directors in Mission Control wept," said Stofan. "Some of our bravest pilots and sailors, riding atop repurposed weapons of war, delivered a message of peace for all humankind. That was the spirit of Apollo."

Lovell, together with Frank Borman and Bill Anders, were the first people to see the far side of the moon with their own eyes. They were also the first to witness "Earthrise," the sight of our planet emerging from behind the lunar surface.

Prior to attending "The Spirit of Apollo" event at National Cathedral on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018, Apollo 8 astronaut Jim Lovell visited the National Air and Space Museum to view the gloves he wore on the historic 1968 lunar orbit mission. (Image credit: National Air and Space Museum)

"I wonder if when they saw it, and then later we saw it, and when they read from Genesis, if God kind of gave a cosmic smile. And I wonder if God said, "Now y'all see what I see,'" said the Most Reverend Michael Curry, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church.

"Some have said that that was a moment that changed human consciousness forever," said Curry.

A color photo of Earthrise, captured by Anders, is largely credited with giving rise to the modern environmental movement. Borman's decision to read verses from the King James Bible was heard by the largest audience that had ever listened to a human voice.

"Their broadcast reached not just almost all of America, but tens of millions of people behind the Iron Curtain where Christmas was still illegal — and they reached them with a Christmas message," said Bridenstine. "That is an amazing tool of national power, of soft power. The idea that we can change the perception of people all around the world towards the United States with space exploration and discovery and science, and that's what NASA did in the Christmas of 1968." [New Apollo 8 'Earthrise' Documentary Is a 'Love Letter to the Earth']

The Apollo 8 mission led to the first humans landing on the moon seven months later. In total, 24 Americans voyaged to the moon, with 12 walking on its surface.

Washington National Cathedral lit for NASA and the National Air and Space Museum's "The Spirit of Apollo" event in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018, including stars projected on its ceiling. (Image credit: NASA TV)

"The last time we had boots on the moon was 1972," said Bridenstine. "But now we are looking at tonight and thinking about the future, what are we doing next and how are we going to accomplish it."

"We are here tonight to celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of history's highest achievements and to begin to answer the question of where we go next," said Stofan. "If the moon is within our grasp, nothing is beyond our reach, but we must decide together where to start. Tonight we find ourselves, like that Christmas Eve 50 years ago, in the beginning."

That next journey will rely on technology, on international cooperation, national leadership and commercial ingenuity. It will also require a measure of faith.

"God gave mankind a stage upon which to perform, how the play ends is up to us," said Lovell.

Watch "The Spirit of Apollo," marking the 50th anniversary of Apollo 8, at collectSPACE.

Follow collectSPACE.com on Facebook and on Twitter at @collectSPACE. Copyright 2018 collectSPACE.com. All rights reserved.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

Robert Z. Pearlman
collectSPACE.com Editor, Space.com Contributor

Robert Pearlman is a space historian, journalist and the founder and editor of collectSPACE.com, an online publication and community devoted to space history with a particular focus on how and where space exploration intersects with pop culture. Pearlman is also a contributing writer for Space.com and co-author of "Space Stations: The Art, Science, and Reality of Working in Space” published by Smithsonian Books in 2018. He previously developed online content for the National Space Society and Apollo 11 moonwalker Buzz Aldrin, helped establish the space tourism company Space Adventures and currently serves on the History Committee of the American Astronautical Society, the advisory committee for The Mars Generation and leadership board of For All Moonkind. In 2009, he was inducted into the U.S. Space Camp Hall of Fame in Huntsville, Alabama. In 2021, he was honored by the American Astronautical Society with the Ordway Award for Sustained Excellence in Spaceflight History.