NASAs Apollo 8 in 1968 saw the first-ever humans venture into deep space and reach the Moon. The monumental achievement on December 24, Christmas Eve, was broadcast around the world from lunar orbit.

NASA astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders took turns during the broadcast to read from the Book of Genesis.

Genesis is the first book of the Old Testament and describes Gods creation of the universe and Earth.

NASA said: As one of the most turbulent, tragic years in American history drew to a close, millions around the world were watching and listening as the Apollo 8 astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and Bill Anders became the first humans to orbit another world.

As their command module floated above the lunar surface, the astronauts beamed back images of the Moon and Earth and took turns reading from the book of Genesis, closing with a wish for everyone on the good Earth.

The astronauts ended their broadcast saying: And from the crew of Apollo 8, we close with good night, good luck, a Merry Christmas and God bless all of you all of you on the good Earth.

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On the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 8 mission, Mr Borman recalled the iconic moment.

He said: We were told that on Christmas Eve we would have the largest audience that had ever listened to a human voice.

And the only instructions that we got from NASA was to do something appropriate.

Mr Lovell, who later commanded the doomed Apollo 13 flight, said Genesis was fitting piece of scripture to read.

The astronaut said: The first ten verses of Genesis is the foundation of many of the world's religions, not just the Christian religion.

There are more people in other religions than the Christian religion around the world, and so this would be appropriate to that and so that's how it came to pass.

The Book of Genesis is divided into the creation of the world and the creation of man.

God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

NASAs Apollo 8 is also famous for a monumental photograph snapped by Mr Anders.

The iconic image dubbed Earthrise features our blue, marbled home planet rising over the Moons pockmarked surface.

Mr Bornan later recalled the experience of seeing the Earth from deep space during a press conference.

He said: I dont think its changed anything in me but it certainly has amplified the feeling, the basic, feeling Ive had for many years about the Earth.

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Christmas on the Moon: How NASA astronauts read the Bible while barreling over the Moon - Express.co.uk