A recovery helicopter retrieves the crew of Apollo 8 after reentry. Published on December 27, 2012 in 27 December 1968 15:51:42 UTC, T plus 147:00:42.0Full resolution (342 × 502) ← Previous Next → A Sikorsky SH-3D Sea King of HS-4 hovers nearby during recovery operations after Apollo 8 lands in the Pacific Ocean, 27 December 1968. (Otis Imboden/National Geographic)