1st manned Apollo mission launches, October
11, 1968
Suzanne Deffree - October 11, 2016
Apollo 7, the first manned mission in the United States Apollo space program, launched from what
was then known as Cape Kennedy Air Force Station, in Florida, on October 11, 1968.
The C type Earth-orbital mission was the first manned US space flight after a cabin fire during a
launch pad test killed the crew of what was to have been the first manned mission, AS-204 (later
renamed Apollo 1) in 1967. While it had technical goals, Apollo 7 was also meant to increase
confidence in NASA’s programs and abilities during the Space Race.
The mission was the first manned test of the redesigned Block II Apollo Command/Service Module. It
flew in Earth’s orbit so the crew could check life-support, propulsion, and control systems. A
technical success, the mission gave NASA the confidence to launch Apollo 8 around the moon two
months later.
The crew was commanded by Walter M Schirra,
with Command Module Pilot Donn F. Eisele,
and Lunar Module Pilot R Walter Cunningham.
(See photo, left to right: Eisele, Schirra,
Cunningham, Source: NASA) They returned
safely to Earth 11 days after launch and marked
a successful mission. Even still, this was the last
flight for the three astronauts thanks to what
has been described as “talking back” to Mission
Control during the voyage.
Several new designs incorporated into Apollo 7
made an already exhausting mission an
uncomfortable one. For example, a more
spacious cabin than NASA had used before
proved to induce motion sickness in orbit.
Television equipment was also forced upon the astronauts. They argued with Mission Control when
pushed to start the cameras up and record for broadcast after a trying day.
Beyond that, the astronauts caught head colds and requested re-entry without their helmets on. The
helmets did not have slide-up visions in the front and the astronauts wanted to be able pinch their
noses and blow out during re-entry to avoid damage to their ear drums and relieve the sinus
pressure caused by the colds (as a civilian would do in popping their ears on a landing plane).
Mission Control argued that splashing down without a helmet on was risky but could not stop the
three men from doing so.
Evidence of some of these exchanges can be found in NASA’s Apollo 7 Mission report, dated
December 1, 1968, and the NASA’s Apollo 7 Ground to Crew Transcripts.
Recognition of the crew’s work was belated. In fact, it came 40 years after the mission. In October
2008, NASA awarded the crew of Apollo 7 NASA's Distinguished Service Medal in recognition of
their crucial contribution to the Apollo program. They had been the only Apollo crew not granted
this award. Cunningham was the only surviving member of the crew at that point. Eisele died in
1987, and Schirra died in 2007.
Also see:
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Apollo 11 makes 1st manned landing on the moon, July 20, 1969
Apollo 11 celebration begins, August 13, 1969
Apollo-Soyuz Test Project ends Space Race, July 17, 1975
Apollo 15 launches with 1st Lunar Roving Vehicle, July 26, 1971
What NASA moment is most inspiring to you?
NASA: Revealing the unknown to benefit all humankind
For more moments in tech history, see this blog. EDN strives to be historically accurate with these
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Editor's note: This article was originally posted on October 11, 2012 and edited on October 11,
2016.