Exploring the Unknown: Selected Documents in ... - The Black Vault

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Project Apollo: Americans to the Moon
RECOMMENDATION:
• Provide program critics an opportunity to denounce the
Apollo 8 mission as precipitous and unconservative.
In conclusion, but with the proviso that all open work against the Apollo 8 openended
lunar orbit mission is completed and certified, I request your approval to
proceed with the implementation plan required to support an earliest December
21, 1968, launch readiness date.
/Signed/
Sam C. Phillips
Lt. General, USAF
Document II-65
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20546
[stamped Nov 18, 1968]
MEMORANDUM to :
Associate Administration for Manned Space Flight
FROM : Acting Administrator
REFERENCE : a. Memorandum for Acting Administrator from Associate
for Manned Space Flight from Apollo Director, Subject:
Apollo 8 Selection, dated November 11, 1968
b. Memorandum for Acting Administrator from
Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, dated
November 11, 1968
c. Memorandum to Acting Administrator from Associate
Administrator for Manned Space Flight, Subject: Request
for Approval to Man the Apollo Saturn V Launch Vehicle,
dated November 5, 1968
Based on careful consideration and analyses of all of the information, comments,
results of engineering tests and analysis, etc. provided to me, I approved on
November 11 Lt. Gen. Samuel C. Phillips’ recommendation (reference a),
transmitted and agreed to by your memorandum to me (reference b), that the
Apollo 8 mission be conducted as a manned lunar orbit mission with CSM 103
on Saturn 503 pending successful accomplishment of all necessary preparation