Daniel Munro
@dkmunro.bsky.social
Director, Research & Innovation, Actua.
Co-Director, Shift Insights.
Senior Fellow, Munk School.
Recovering political philosopher.
MIT PhD. Innovation. Science policy. Ethics. Skills. Space. JAWS. Running. Chronic napping. 🇨🇦
www.shiftinsights.ca
Co-Director, Shift Insights.
Senior Fellow, Munk School.
Recovering political philosopher.
MIT PhD. Innovation. Science policy. Ethics. Skills. Space. JAWS. Running. Chronic napping. 🇨🇦
www.shiftinsights.ca
Pinned
57 years ago tomorrow (December 21, 1968) the Apollo 8 crew embarked on its historic lunar orbit mission.
As I do every year as a Christmas treat, I’ll share some of my favourite discoveries and observations about the Greatest Space Adventure Ever.
1/n
As I do every year as a Christmas treat, I’ll share some of my favourite discoveries and observations about the Greatest Space Adventure Ever.
1/n
Reposted by Daniel Munro
Apollo 8.
December 26, 1968.
Trans-Earth Coast
Anders and the crew snap more photos on the return trip home.
A few of Earth…
82/n
December 26, 1968.
Trans-Earth Coast
Anders and the crew snap more photos on the return trip home.
A few of Earth…
82/n
December 26, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Apollo 8.
December 26, 1968.
Trans-Earth Coast
Anders and the crew snap more photos on the return trip home.
A few of Earth…
82/n
December 26, 1968.
Trans-Earth Coast
Anders and the crew snap more photos on the return trip home.
A few of Earth…
82/n
Reposted by Daniel Munro
Apollo 8
December 26, 1968
Trans-Earth Coast
Anders and the crew snap more photos on the return trip home.
A few of the Moon…
81/n
December 26, 1968
Trans-Earth Coast
Anders and the crew snap more photos on the return trip home.
A few of the Moon…
81/n
December 26, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Apollo 8
December 26, 1968
Trans-Earth Coast
Anders and the crew snap more photos on the return trip home.
A few of the Moon…
81/n
December 26, 1968
Trans-Earth Coast
Anders and the crew snap more photos on the return trip home.
A few of the Moon…
81/n
Reposted by Daniel Munro
Apollo 8
December 25, 1968
Homeward bound.
Anders: As I look down on the Earth here from so far out in space, I…have the feeling that travellers in the old sailing ships used to have:…being proud of the trip but…still happy to be going back home.
78/n
December 25, 1968
Homeward bound.
Anders: As I look down on the Earth here from so far out in space, I…have the feeling that travellers in the old sailing ships used to have:…being proud of the trip but…still happy to be going back home.
78/n
December 25, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Apollo 8
December 25, 1968
Homeward bound.
Anders: As I look down on the Earth here from so far out in space, I…have the feeling that travellers in the old sailing ships used to have:…being proud of the trip but…still happy to be going back home.
78/n
December 25, 1968
Homeward bound.
Anders: As I look down on the Earth here from so far out in space, I…have the feeling that travellers in the old sailing ships used to have:…being proud of the trip but…still happy to be going back home.
78/n
Reposted by Daniel Munro
Apollo 8
December 25, 1968
Much credit for Apollo 8’s return goes to Frances “Poppy” Northcutt @poppynorthcutt.bsky.social - the only woman in Mission Control and an expert in the tricky math of trans-Earth injection.
@howellspace.bsky.social wrote about her:
www.space.com/poppy-northc...
77/n
December 25, 1968
Much credit for Apollo 8’s return goes to Frances “Poppy” Northcutt @poppynorthcutt.bsky.social - the only woman in Mission Control and an expert in the tricky math of trans-Earth injection.
@howellspace.bsky.social wrote about her:
www.space.com/poppy-northc...
77/n
Poppy Northcutt, the Only Woman in Mission Control, Recalls Challenges of Bringing Apollo Astronauts Home
Frances "Poppy" Northcutt had the important job of bringing the Apollo 11 astronauts home safely, from her perch in NASA's Mission Control.
www.space.com
December 25, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Apollo 8
December 25, 1968
Much credit for Apollo 8’s return goes to Frances “Poppy” Northcutt @poppynorthcutt.bsky.social - the only woman in Mission Control and an expert in the tricky math of trans-Earth injection.
@howellspace.bsky.social wrote about her:
www.space.com/poppy-northc...
77/n
December 25, 1968
Much credit for Apollo 8’s return goes to Frances “Poppy” Northcutt @poppynorthcutt.bsky.social - the only woman in Mission Control and an expert in the tricky math of trans-Earth injection.
@howellspace.bsky.social wrote about her:
www.space.com/poppy-northc...
77/n
Pro Tip: Stealth 20 minute nap at 10:00am.
December 25, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Pro Tip: Stealth 20 minute nap at 10:00am.
Reposted by Daniel Munro
Apollo 8.
December 24, 1968
Jim Lovell, William Anders, and Frank Borman send a special Christmas Eve message to everyone back on Earth.
www.youtube.com/watch?app=de...
72/n
December 24, 1968
Jim Lovell, William Anders, and Frank Borman send a special Christmas Eve message to everyone back on Earth.
www.youtube.com/watch?app=de...
72/n
Apollo 8's Christmas Eve 1968 Message
YouTube video by NASA Video
www.youtube.com
December 24, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Apollo 8.
December 24, 1968
Jim Lovell, William Anders, and Frank Borman send a special Christmas Eve message to everyone back on Earth.
www.youtube.com/watch?app=de...
72/n
December 24, 1968
Jim Lovell, William Anders, and Frank Borman send a special Christmas Eve message to everyone back on Earth.
www.youtube.com/watch?app=de...
72/n
Reposted by Daniel Munro
Apollo 8
December 24, 1968
Anders: “The sky up here is also rather forbidding, foreboding expanse of blackness with no stars visible when we're flying over…the Moon in daylight.”
70/n
December 24, 1968
Anders: “The sky up here is also rather forbidding, foreboding expanse of blackness with no stars visible when we're flying over…the Moon in daylight.”
70/n
December 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Apollo 8
December 24, 1968
Anders: “The sky up here is also rather forbidding, foreboding expanse of blackness with no stars visible when we're flying over…the Moon in daylight.”
70/n
December 24, 1968
Anders: “The sky up here is also rather forbidding, foreboding expanse of blackness with no stars visible when we're flying over…the Moon in daylight.”
70/n
Reposted by Daniel Munro
Apollo 8
December 24, 1968
Lovell: "The vast loneliness up here at the moon is awe inspiring, and it makes you realize what you have back there on Earth. The Earth from here is a grand oasis in the big vastness of space."
69/n
December 24, 1968
Lovell: "The vast loneliness up here at the moon is awe inspiring, and it makes you realize what you have back there on Earth. The Earth from here is a grand oasis in the big vastness of space."
69/n
December 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Apollo 8
December 24, 1968
Lovell: "The vast loneliness up here at the moon is awe inspiring, and it makes you realize what you have back there on Earth. The Earth from here is a grand oasis in the big vastness of space."
69/n
December 24, 1968
Lovell: "The vast loneliness up here at the moon is awe inspiring, and it makes you realize what you have back there on Earth. The Earth from here is a grand oasis in the big vastness of space."
69/n
Reposted by Daniel Munro
Apollo 8
December 24, 1968
Borman: "The moon is a different thing to each one of us… My own impression is that it's a vast, lonely, forbidding type of existence or expanse of nothing. And it certainly would not appear to be a very inviting place to live or work."
68/n
December 24, 1968
Borman: "The moon is a different thing to each one of us… My own impression is that it's a vast, lonely, forbidding type of existence or expanse of nothing. And it certainly would not appear to be a very inviting place to live or work."
68/n
December 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Apollo 8
December 24, 1968
Borman: "The moon is a different thing to each one of us… My own impression is that it's a vast, lonely, forbidding type of existence or expanse of nothing. And it certainly would not appear to be a very inviting place to live or work."
68/n
December 24, 1968
Borman: "The moon is a different thing to each one of us… My own impression is that it's a vast, lonely, forbidding type of existence or expanse of nothing. And it certainly would not appear to be a very inviting place to live or work."
68/n
Reposted by Daniel Munro
This is an almost shockingly wise essay. I'm glad I've finally read it.
There Is No Mary Problem in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’
George’s vision of his wife without him is essential to the film, but critics continue to miss its true—and profound—meaning.
open.substack.com
December 24, 2025 at 12:34 AM
This is an almost shockingly wise essay. I'm glad I've finally read it.
I learned about this 4 or 5 years ago. Since then I’ve thought a lot about how, on the one hand, we have a wonderful capacity to be awed by the sublime and, on the other hand, have an overwhelming drive to re-orient what we see to fit with conventional and comfortable perspectives.
Apollo 8 Fun Fact:
Anders originally took the Earthrise photo with this “sideways” orientation.
There’s no up or down in space so you can turn it however you want, but the common presentation of the image has it turned 90 degrees from Anders’ original view.
65/n
Anders originally took the Earthrise photo with this “sideways” orientation.
There’s no up or down in space so you can turn it however you want, but the common presentation of the image has it turned 90 degrees from Anders’ original view.
65/n
December 24, 2025 at 4:05 PM
I learned about this 4 or 5 years ago. Since then I’ve thought a lot about how, on the one hand, we have a wonderful capacity to be awed by the sublime and, on the other hand, have an overwhelming drive to re-orient what we see to fit with conventional and comfortable perspectives.
Reposted by Daniel Munro
Apollo 8 Fun Fact:
Anders originally took the Earthrise photo with this “sideways” orientation.
There’s no up or down in space so you can turn it however you want, but the common presentation of the image has it turned 90 degrees from Anders’ original view.
65/n
Anders originally took the Earthrise photo with this “sideways” orientation.
There’s no up or down in space so you can turn it however you want, but the common presentation of the image has it turned 90 degrees from Anders’ original view.
65/n
December 24, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Apollo 8 Fun Fact:
Anders originally took the Earthrise photo with this “sideways” orientation.
There’s no up or down in space so you can turn it however you want, but the common presentation of the image has it turned 90 degrees from Anders’ original view.
65/n
Anders originally took the Earthrise photo with this “sideways” orientation.
There’s no up or down in space so you can turn it however you want, but the common presentation of the image has it turned 90 degrees from Anders’ original view.
65/n
Reposted by Daniel Munro
Apollo 8
December 24, 1968
Anders: Oh my God! Look at that picture over there! There's the Earth coming up. Wow that's pretty.
Borman: Hey don't take that, it's not scheduled [laughs]
A: You got a color film, Jim. Hand me that roll of color quick...
Lovell: Oh man, that's great!
64/n
December 24, 1968
Anders: Oh my God! Look at that picture over there! There's the Earth coming up. Wow that's pretty.
Borman: Hey don't take that, it's not scheduled [laughs]
A: You got a color film, Jim. Hand me that roll of color quick...
Lovell: Oh man, that's great!
64/n
December 24, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Apollo 8
December 24, 1968
Anders: Oh my God! Look at that picture over there! There's the Earth coming up. Wow that's pretty.
Borman: Hey don't take that, it's not scheduled [laughs]
A: You got a color film, Jim. Hand me that roll of color quick...
Lovell: Oh man, that's great!
64/n
December 24, 1968
Anders: Oh my God! Look at that picture over there! There's the Earth coming up. Wow that's pretty.
Borman: Hey don't take that, it's not scheduled [laughs]
A: You got a color film, Jim. Hand me that roll of color quick...
Lovell: Oh man, that's great!
64/n
Reposted by Daniel Munro
Earthrise
Apollo 8
December 24, 1968
63/n
Apollo 8
December 24, 1968
63/n
December 24, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Earthrise
Apollo 8
December 24, 1968
63/n
Apollo 8
December 24, 1968
63/n
Reposted by Daniel Munro
Apollo 8
Day 4
December 24, 1968
The world wakes up to the news that Apollo 8 has safely orbited the Moon.
The crew ultimately orbits the Moon ten times over 20 hours.
62/n
Day 4
December 24, 1968
The world wakes up to the news that Apollo 8 has safely orbited the Moon.
The crew ultimately orbits the Moon ten times over 20 hours.
62/n
December 24, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Apollo 8
Day 4
December 24, 1968
The world wakes up to the news that Apollo 8 has safely orbited the Moon.
The crew ultimately orbits the Moon ten times over 20 hours.
62/n
Day 4
December 24, 1968
The world wakes up to the news that Apollo 8 has safely orbited the Moon.
The crew ultimately orbits the Moon ten times over 20 hours.
62/n
Reposted by Daniel Munro
Apollo 8
December 23, 1968
Lunar Encounter
Lovell: Hey, I got the Moon. Anders: Do you? L: Right below us. Borman: Okay. A: It is below us? L: Yes, and it's... A: Oh, my God! B: What's wrong? A: Look at that!
60/n
December 23, 1968
Lunar Encounter
Lovell: Hey, I got the Moon. Anders: Do you? L: Right below us. Borman: Okay. A: It is below us? L: Yes, and it's... A: Oh, my God! B: What's wrong? A: Look at that!
60/n
December 23, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Apollo 8
December 23, 1968
Lunar Encounter
Lovell: Hey, I got the Moon. Anders: Do you? L: Right below us. Borman: Okay. A: It is below us? L: Yes, and it's... A: Oh, my God! B: What's wrong? A: Look at that!
60/n
December 23, 1968
Lunar Encounter
Lovell: Hey, I got the Moon. Anders: Do you? L: Right below us. Borman: Okay. A: It is below us? L: Yes, and it's... A: Oh, my God! B: What's wrong? A: Look at that!
60/n
Reposted by Daniel Munro
Apollo 8
December 23, 1968
The mission plan calls for the SPS burn option to put Apollo 8 into lunar orbit for the better part of a day.
The actual decision to execute the burn rests with Commander Frank Borman who *before they launched* estimated a 50-50 chance of returning safely to Earth.
57/n
December 23, 1968
The mission plan calls for the SPS burn option to put Apollo 8 into lunar orbit for the better part of a day.
The actual decision to execute the burn rests with Commander Frank Borman who *before they launched* estimated a 50-50 chance of returning safely to Earth.
57/n
December 23, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Apollo 8
December 23, 1968
The mission plan calls for the SPS burn option to put Apollo 8 into lunar orbit for the better part of a day.
The actual decision to execute the burn rests with Commander Frank Borman who *before they launched* estimated a 50-50 chance of returning safely to Earth.
57/n
December 23, 1968
The mission plan calls for the SPS burn option to put Apollo 8 into lunar orbit for the better part of a day.
The actual decision to execute the burn rests with Commander Frank Borman who *before they launched* estimated a 50-50 chance of returning safely to Earth.
57/n
Reposted by Daniel Munro
The other day I misjudged a turn and bumped the curb with the rear tire on my car. So... you know, (low probability) risks.
Apollo 8
December 23, 1968
The decision has (low probability) risks.
Risk: If trajectory is off, SPS burn is mistimed or goes wonky -> death by flying past or crashing into the Moon.
Upside?: Furthest space travel ever or first (dead) men on the Moon.
56/n
December 23, 1968
The decision has (low probability) risks.
Risk: If trajectory is off, SPS burn is mistimed or goes wonky -> death by flying past or crashing into the Moon.
Upside?: Furthest space travel ever or first (dead) men on the Moon.
56/n
December 23, 2025 at 8:52 PM
The other day I misjudged a turn and bumped the curb with the rear tire on my car. So... you know, (low probability) risks.
Reposted by Daniel Munro
if they had just shown it on 60 Minutes nobody would have seen it
December 23, 2025 at 12:54 AM
if they had just shown it on 60 Minutes nobody would have seen it
Reposted by Daniel Munro
Reposted by Daniel Munro
Apollo 8
December 23, 1968
~55 hours into the mission, the Moon’s gravitational pull overtakes the Earth’s pull. After slowing for 2 days, Apollo 8 will accelerate.
Anders takes another Earth photo shortly after crossing the Lagrange point.
~326,000 km from Earth
~58,000 km to the Moon
53/n
December 23, 1968
~55 hours into the mission, the Moon’s gravitational pull overtakes the Earth’s pull. After slowing for 2 days, Apollo 8 will accelerate.
Anders takes another Earth photo shortly after crossing the Lagrange point.
~326,000 km from Earth
~58,000 km to the Moon
53/n
December 23, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Apollo 8
December 23, 1968
~55 hours into the mission, the Moon’s gravitational pull overtakes the Earth’s pull. After slowing for 2 days, Apollo 8 will accelerate.
Anders takes another Earth photo shortly after crossing the Lagrange point.
~326,000 km from Earth
~58,000 km to the Moon
53/n
December 23, 1968
~55 hours into the mission, the Moon’s gravitational pull overtakes the Earth’s pull. After slowing for 2 days, Apollo 8 will accelerate.
Anders takes another Earth photo shortly after crossing the Lagrange point.
~326,000 km from Earth
~58,000 km to the Moon
53/n
My wife: Can you at least try to keep a few surfaces clear enough for me to put my coffee down?
Me, trying:
Me, trying:
December 23, 2025 at 2:47 PM
My wife: Can you at least try to keep a few surfaces clear enough for me to put my coffee down?
Me, trying:
Me, trying:
How I know I’m not cut out to be a Moon-bound astronaut:
The picture on the left fills me with awe. The picture on the right fills me with existential dread.
The picture on the left fills me with awe. The picture on the right fills me with existential dread.
December 23, 2025 at 1:33 PM
How I know I’m not cut out to be a Moon-bound astronaut:
The picture on the left fills me with awe. The picture on the right fills me with existential dread.
The picture on the left fills me with awe. The picture on the right fills me with existential dread.
Reposted by Daniel Munro
Apollo 8
December 22, 1968
Borman, Lovell and Anders get updates on their wives and kids. All are well as can be.
The men try to bank as much sleep as they can knowing they’ll be awake for much of the lunar orbit.
As they leave Earth farther behind, they do not sleep well.
46/n
December 22, 1968
Borman, Lovell and Anders get updates on their wives and kids. All are well as can be.
The men try to bank as much sleep as they can knowing they’ll be awake for much of the lunar orbit.
As they leave Earth farther behind, they do not sleep well.
46/n
December 22, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Apollo 8
December 22, 1968
Borman, Lovell and Anders get updates on their wives and kids. All are well as can be.
The men try to bank as much sleep as they can knowing they’ll be awake for much of the lunar orbit.
As they leave Earth farther behind, they do not sleep well.
46/n
December 22, 1968
Borman, Lovell and Anders get updates on their wives and kids. All are well as can be.
The men try to bank as much sleep as they can knowing they’ll be awake for much of the lunar orbit.
As they leave Earth farther behind, they do not sleep well.
46/n
Reposted by Daniel Munro
Apollo 8
December 22, 1968
The Apollo 8 crew tries, but fails, to show the TV audience their view of the Earth at approximately 217,000km.
Photos developed after the mission reveal what the TV audience missed.
44/n
December 22, 1968
The Apollo 8 crew tries, but fails, to show the TV audience their view of the Earth at approximately 217,000km.
Photos developed after the mission reveal what the TV audience missed.
44/n
December 22, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Apollo 8
December 22, 1968
The Apollo 8 crew tries, but fails, to show the TV audience their view of the Earth at approximately 217,000km.
Photos developed after the mission reveal what the TV audience missed.
44/n
December 22, 1968
The Apollo 8 crew tries, but fails, to show the TV audience their view of the Earth at approximately 217,000km.
Photos developed after the mission reveal what the TV audience missed.
44/n