item 6 .selected financial data the following table represents our selected financial data .the table should be read in conjunction with item 7 and item 8 of this report .the table below reflects immaterial error corrections discussed in note 2 : summary of significant accounting policies in item 8. . ( $ in millions except per share amounts ) | year ended december 31 2012 | year ended december 31 2011 | year ended december 31 2010 | year ended december 31 2009 | year ended december 31 2008
sales and service revenues                 | $ 6708                      | $ 6575                      | $ 6723                      | $ 6292                      | $ 6189                     
goodwill impairment                        | 2014                        | 290                         | 2014                        | 2014                        | 2465                       
operating income ( loss )                  | 358                         | 100                         | 241                         | 203                         | -2332 ( 2332 )             
net earnings ( loss )                      | 146                         | -100 ( 100 )                | 131                         | 119                         | -2397 ( 2397 )             
total assets                               | 6392                        | 6069                        | 5270                        | 5097                        | 4821                       
long-term debt ( 1 )                       | 1779                        | 1830                        | 105                         | 283                         | 283                        
total long-term obligations                | 4341                        | 3838                        | 1637                        | 1708                        | 1823                       
free cash flow ( 2 )                       | 170                         | 331                         | 168                         | -269 ( 269 )                | 121                        
dividends declared per share               | $ 0.10                      | $ 2014                      | $ 2014                      | $ 2014                      | $ 2014                     
basic earnings ( loss ) per share ( 3 )    | $ 2.96                      | $ -2.05 ( 2.05 )            | $ 2.68                      | $ 2.44                      | $ -49.14 ( 49.14 )         
diluted earnings ( loss ) per share ( 3 )  | $ 2.91                      | $ -2.05 ( 2.05 )            | $ 2.68                      | $ 2.44                      | $ -49.14 ( 49.14 )          basic earnings ( loss ) per share ( 3 ) $ 2.96 $ ( 2.05 ) $ 2.68 $ 2.44 $ ( 49.14 ) diluted earnings ( loss ) per share ( 3 ) $ 2.91 $ ( 2.05 ) $ 2.68 $ 2.44 $ ( 49.14 ) ( 1 ) long-term debt does not include amounts payable to our former parent as of and before december 31 , 2010 , as these amounts were due upon demand and included in current liabilities .( 2 ) free cash flow is a non-gaap financial measure and represents cash from operating activities less capital expenditures .see liquidity and capital resources in item 7 for more information on this measure .( 3 ) on march 30 , 2011 , the record date of the stock distribution associated with the spin-off from northrop grumman , approximately 48.8 million shares of $ 0.01 par value hii common stock were distributed to northrop grumman stockholders .this share amount was utilized for the calculation of basic and diluted earnings ( loss ) per share for the three months ended march 31 , 2011 , and all prior periods , as no common stock of the company existed prior to march 30 , 2011 , and the impact of dilutive securities in the three month period ended march 31 , 2011 , was not meaningful. .
Question: what was the amount of the total assets in 2012, in millions of dollars?
Steps: Ask for number 6392
Answer: 6392.0
Question: and what was it in 2008, also in millions of dollars?
Steps: Ask for number 4821
Answer: 4821.0
Question: what was, then, the change over the years?

Read the following texts and table with financial data from an S&P 500 earnings report carefully.Based on the question-answer history (if provided), answer the last question. The answer may require mathematical calculation based on the data provided.
item 6 .selected financial data the following table represents our selected financial data .the table should be read in conjunction with item 7 and item 8 of this report .the table below reflects immaterial error corrections discussed in note 2 : summary of significant accounting policies in item 8. . ( $ in millions except per share amounts ) | year ended december 31 2012 | year ended december 31 2011 | year ended december 31 2010 | year ended december 31 2009 | year ended december 31 2008
sales and service revenues                 | $ 6708                      | $ 6575                      | $ 6723                      | $ 6292                      | $ 6189                     
goodwill impairment                        | 2014                        | 290                         | 2014                        | 2014                        | 2465                       
operating income ( loss )                  | 358                         | 100                         | 241                         | 203                         | -2332 ( 2332 )             
net earnings ( loss )                      | 146                         | -100 ( 100 )                | 131                         | 119                         | -2397 ( 2397 )             
total assets                               | 6392                        | 6069                        | 5270                        | 5097                        | 4821                       
long-term debt ( 1 )                       | 1779                        | 1830                        | 105                         | 283                         | 283                        
total long-term obligations                | 4341                        | 3838                        | 1637                        | 1708                        | 1823                       
free cash flow ( 2 )                       | 170                         | 331                         | 168                         | -269 ( 269 )                | 121                        
dividends declared per share               | $ 0.10                      | $ 2014                      | $ 2014                      | $ 2014                      | $ 2014                     
basic earnings ( loss ) per share ( 3 )    | $ 2.96                      | $ -2.05 ( 2.05 )            | $ 2.68                      | $ 2.44                      | $ -49.14 ( 49.14 )         
diluted earnings ( loss ) per share ( 3 )  | $ 2.91                      | $ -2.05 ( 2.05 )            | $ 2.68                      | $ 2.44                      | $ -49.14 ( 49.14 )          basic earnings ( loss ) per share ( 3 ) $ 2.96 $ ( 2.05 ) $ 2.68 $ 2.44 $ ( 49.14 ) diluted earnings ( loss ) per share ( 3 ) $ 2.91 $ ( 2.05 ) $ 2.68 $ 2.44 $ ( 49.14 ) ( 1 ) long-term debt does not include amounts payable to our former parent as of and before december 31 , 2010 , as these amounts were due upon demand and included in current liabilities .( 2 ) free cash flow is a non-gaap financial measure and represents cash from operating activities less capital expenditures .see liquidity and capital resources in item 7 for more information on this measure .( 3 ) on march 30 , 2011 , the record date of the stock distribution associated with the spin-off from northrop grumman , approximately 48.8 million shares of $ 0.01 par value hii common stock were distributed to northrop grumman stockholders .this share amount was utilized for the calculation of basic and diluted earnings ( loss ) per share for the three months ended march 31 , 2011 , and all prior periods , as no common stock of the company existed prior to march 30 , 2011 , and the impact of dilutive securities in the three month period ended march 31 , 2011 , was not meaningful. .
Question: what was the amount of the total assets in 2012, in millions of dollars?
Steps: Ask for number 6392
Answer: 6392.0
Question: and what was it in 2008, also in millions of dollars?
Steps: Ask for number 4821
Answer: 4821.0
Question: what was, then, the change over the years?
