Pre - Christmas family group . Manned Spacecraft Centre , Texas : This Christmas - time family group photograph had to be taken early this year , as father is off on a trip - round the Moon . Apollo - 8 Lunar Module pilot , William Anders poses with his wife Valerie and children at their family home , shortly before the start of his historic flight . The children are ( clockwise from top ) Greg , Alan , Glen , Gayle and Eric . 23 December 1968