Apollo 7 was the first crewed mission of NASA's Apollo program and was primarily a test flight for the Apollo Command and Service Module (CSM). It marked a critical step towards the goal of landing humans on the Moon
3. MISSION OBJECTIVE The primary objectives of Apollo 7 were:
• To test the Apollo Command and Service Module (CSM) in
Earth orbit.
• To demonstrate crew, launch vehicle, and mission support
facilities performance during a crewed CSM mission.
• To demonstrate the CSM rendezvous capability.
4. APOLLO 12 CREW
Portrait of the prime crew of the
Apollo 7 Mission
Left to right: Eisele, Schirra,
Cunningham
7. APOLLO 11 CREW
R. Walter Cunningham
Lunar Module Pilot
Mission Insignia
8. Apollo 7 lifts off from Cape
Kennedy Launch Complex 34 at
11:03 A.M., EDT.
MISSION BACKGROUND
9. MISSION BACKGROUND
• After the Apollo 1 accident, NASA initiated significant modifications to the Apollo CM. Flammable
materials were replaced, the pure oxygen atmosphere during ground operations was reassessed,
and the hatch design was revised to allow for rapid egress in emergencies.
• The work that went into these changes was extensive and reflected in the Apollo 7 mission, where
the redesigned Command and Service Modules (CSM) would be tested in space for the first time.
• The Apollo 7 mission was designed to pave the way for the ambitious flights that would follow.
NASA's plan for achieving a Moon landing involved several preparatory steps, and a successful
Apollo 7 mission was essential to validate the spacecraft's design, systems, and operational
procedures before proceeding to more complex missions like the lunar orbit of Apollo 8.
10. MISSION BACKGROUND
Apollo 7 was notable for carrying the
first live television broadcasts from an
American spacecraft. The crew
broadcast multiple times, giving
viewers on Earth a unique glimpse
into life in space. These broadcasts
were an early example of the merging
of space exploration with the global
media, paving the way for iconic
broadcasts in subsequent Apollo
missions.
12. RETURN TO EARTH Apollo 7 splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean, south of
Bermuda, on October 22, 1968. The splashdown was
relatively close to the targeted location, demonstrating
the accuracy of the reentry process.
14. GALLERY
Technicians assist the crew of Apollo 7 during spacecraft egress training
at the Kennedy Space Center. July 4, 1968. Scan by Ed Hengeveld.
The Apollo 7 crew poses for a photo. August, 1968. Scan by Ed
Hengeveld.
15. GALLERY
Apollo 7 at Complex 34 during countdown demonstration test.
September 16, 1968. Scan by J.L. Pickering
Buzz Aldrin moves toward a position to deploy two components of the
Early Apollo Scientific Experiments Package (EASEP) on the surface of the
moon during the Apollo 11 mission.
16. GALLERY
Apollo 7 crew goes through suiting up operations in the Manned Spacecraft Operations
Building at KSC during prelaunch countdown. Front to rear are Schirra, Eisele and
Cunningham
Schirra leads crew at base of Pad 34 on launch day
17. GALLERY
liftoff of Apollo 7 from Cape Kennedy Launch
Complex 34
Apollo 7 lifts off from Cape Kennedy Launch
Complex 34 at 11:03 A.M., EDT.
liftoff of Apollo 7
18. GALLERY
Apollo 7 S-IVB stage in Earth orbit Apollo 7 S-IVB stage and docking practice target
33. GALLERY
underside of Apollo 7 Command Module during recovery Apollo 7 crew arrives aboard recovery ship U.S.S. Essex
34. GALLERY
The Apollo 7 Command Module bobs in the Atlantic as
a Sea King helicopter recovers its three-man crew. The
three spheres atop the conical CM capsule are flotation
devices designed to right it in the event it tipped and
floated in the ocean nose down. Image credit: NASA
