50 years ago today, the astronauts of Apollo 8 entered lunar orbit for the first time and took the famous Earthrise photo. Nature photographer Galen Rowell declared it “the most influential environmental photograph ever taken”.
This is the flown heel restraint carried on the Apollo 8 mission, consisting of a metal heel bracket with heavy duty brown Velcro stirrup straps. Signed on the bottom of the metal heel piece in black felt tip, “James Lovell, Apollo 8.”
These heel restraints locked the astronauts’ feet in place for safety during liftoff of the Saturn V rocket from Earth. If the astronauts were not tightly restrained in their couches during the launch phase, the violent motion induced from extreme acceleration could result in injury. The restraints are made of a very lightweight metal and heavy duty stirrup straps with Velcro closures. The items were manufactured by B. Welson Co.
Lovell is the only person to have flown to the Moon twice without landing (Apollo 8 and 13).
Photographer astronaut Bill Anders reflected today: “The Earth we saw rising over the battered grey lunar surface was small and delicate, a magnificent spot of color in the vast blackness of space. Once-distant places appeared inseparably close. Borders that once rendered division vanished. All of humanity appeared joined together on this glorious-but-fragile sphere. We set out to explore the moon and instead discovered the Earth.” (Space.com)
Includes the North American Rockwell Corporation parts removal tag, identifying the piece as: “Part Number BW-1053-001, Serial/Lot Number 1022, Authority APR 522804 TP5008, Rom #192” and “Model Number Hell Restraint, Serial Number S/C 103.” The tag is dated April 14, 1969, about four months after the Apollo 8 mission. 
From the NASA transcript:
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