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'''Apollo 7''' (October 11–22, 1968) was the first crewed flight in [[NASA]]'s [[Apollo program]], and saw the resumption of [[human spaceflight]] by the agency after the fire that | '''Apollo 7''' (October 11–22, 1968) was the first crewed flight in [[NASA]]'s [[Apollo program]], and saw the resumption of [[human spaceflight]] by the agency after the fire that killed the three [[Apollo 1]] astronauts during a launch rehearsal test on January 27, 1967. The Apollo{{spaces}}7 crew [[commander (Apollo program)|was commanded]] by [[Wally Schirra|Walter M. Schirra]], with [[Command Module Pilot]] [[Donn F. Eisele]] and [[Lunar Module pilot]] [[Walter Cunningham|R. Walter Cunningham]] (so designated even though Apollo{{spaces}}7 did not carry a [[Apollo Lunar Module|Lunar Module]]). | ||
The three astronauts were originally designated for the second crewed Apollo flight, and then as backups for Apollo{{spaces}}1. After the Apollo{{spaces}}1 fire, crewed flights were suspended while the cause of the accident was investigated and improvements made to the spacecraft and safety procedures, and uncrewed test flights made. Determined to prevent a repetition of the fire, the crew spent long periods monitoring the construction of their [[Apollo command and service module]]s (CSM). Training continued over much of the {{awrap|21-month}} pause that followed the Apollo{{spaces}}1 disaster. | The three astronauts were originally designated for the second crewed Apollo flight, and then as backups for Apollo{{spaces}}1. After the Apollo{{spaces}}1 fire, crewed flights were suspended while the cause of the accident was investigated and improvements made to the spacecraft and safety procedures, and uncrewed test flights made. Determined to prevent a repetition of the fire, the crew spent long periods monitoring the construction of their [[Apollo command and service module]]s (CSM). Training continued over much of the {{awrap|21-month}} pause that followed the Apollo{{spaces}}1 disaster. | ||
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==Background and personnel== | ==Background and personnel== | ||
[[File:Apollo 7 Manned Space Flight Film Report 1967.webm|thumb|''Apollo 7: Manned Space Flight Film Report'' (1968) Official [[NASA]] Apollo 7 information film reel.]] | |||
{{Spaceflight crew | {{Spaceflight crew | ||
|terminology = Astronaut<ref name="crew">{{cite web |url=https://airandspace.si.edu/explore-and-learn/topics/apollo/apollo-program/orbital-missions/apollo7-crew.cfm |title=Apollo 7 Crew |publisher=[[National Air and Space Museum]] |access-date=April 19, 2018 |archive-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616203309/https://airandspace.si.edu/learn/highlighted-topics-/apollo |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |terminology = Astronaut<ref name="crew">{{cite web |url=https://airandspace.si.edu/explore-and-learn/topics/apollo/apollo-program/orbital-missions/apollo7-crew.cfm |title=Apollo 7 Crew |publisher=[[National Air and Space Museum]] |access-date=April 19, 2018 |archive-date=June 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616203309/https://airandspace.si.edu/learn/highlighted-topics-/apollo |url-status=dead }}</ref> | ||
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Schirra, one of the original "[[Mercury Seven]]" astronauts, graduated from the [[United States Naval Academy]] in 1945. He flew [[Mercury-Atlas 8]] in 1962, the fifth crewed flight of [[Project Mercury]] and the third to reach orbit, and in 1965 was the command pilot for [[Gemini 6A]]. He was a 45-year-old captain in the Navy at the time of Apollo{{spaces}}7. Eisele graduated from the Naval Academy in 1952 with a B.S. in aeronautics. He elected to be commissioned in the Air Force, and was a 38-year-old major at the time of Apollo{{spaces}}7.{{sfn|Orloff & Harland 2006|p=171}} Cunningham joined the U.S. Navy in 1951, began flight training the following year, and served in a Marine flight squadron from 1953 to 1956, and was a civilian, aged 36, serving in the Marine Corps reserves with a rank of major, at the time of Apollo{{spaces}}7.{{sfn|Orloff & Harland 2006|p=171}}{{sfn|Press Kit|p=68}} He received degrees in physics from [[UCLA]], a B.A. in 1960 and an M.A. in 1961. Both Eisele and Cunningham were selected as part of the [[NASA Astronaut Group 3|third group of astronauts]] in 1963.{{sfn|Orloff & Harland 2006|p=171}} | Schirra, one of the original "[[Mercury Seven]]" astronauts, graduated from the [[United States Naval Academy]] in 1945. He flew [[Mercury-Atlas 8]] in 1962, the fifth crewed flight of [[Project Mercury]] and the third to reach orbit, and in 1965 was the command pilot for [[Gemini 6A]]. He was a 45-year-old captain in the Navy at the time of Apollo{{spaces}}7. Eisele graduated from the Naval Academy in 1952 with a B.S. in aeronautics. He elected to be commissioned in the Air Force, and was a 38-year-old major at the time of Apollo{{spaces}}7.{{sfn|Orloff & Harland 2006|p=171}} Cunningham joined the U.S. Navy in 1951, began flight training the following year, and served in a Marine flight squadron from 1953 to 1956, and was a civilian, aged 36, serving in the Marine Corps reserves with a rank of major, at the time of Apollo{{spaces}}7.{{sfn|Orloff & Harland 2006|p=171}}{{sfn|Press Kit|p=68}} He received degrees in physics from [[UCLA]], a B.A. in 1960 and an M.A. in 1961. Both Eisele and Cunningham were selected as part of the [[NASA Astronaut Group 3|third group of astronauts]] in 1963.{{sfn|Orloff & Harland 2006|p=171}} | ||
Eisele was originally slotted for a position on [[Gus Grissom]]'s [[Apollo 1]] crew along with [[Ed White (astronaut)|Ed White]], but days prior to the official announcement on March 25, 1966, Eisele sustained a shoulder injury that would require surgery. Instead, [[Roger Chaffee]] was given the position and Eisele was reassigned to Schirra's crew.{{sfn|French & Burgess 2007|pp=689–691}} | Eisele was originally slotted for a position on [[Gus Grissom]]'s [[Apollo 1]] crew along with [[Ed White (astronaut)|Ed White]], but days prior to the official announcement on March 25, 1966, Eisele sustained a shoulder injury that would require surgery. Instead, [[Roger Chaffee]] was given the position and Eisele was reassigned to Schirra's crew.{{sfn|French & Burgess 2007|pp=689–691}} | ||
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Schirra, Eisele, and Cunningham were first named as an Apollo crew on September 29, 1966. They were to fly a second Earth orbital test of the [[Apollo command and service module#Command module|Apollo Command Module]] (CM).{{sfn|French & Burgess 2007|pp=955–957}} Although delighted as a rookie to be assigned to a prime crew without having served as a backup, Cunningham was troubled by the fact that a second Earth orbital test flight, dubbed Apollo{{spaces}}2, seemed unnecessary if Apollo{{spaces}}1 was successful. He learned later that Director of Flight Crew Operations [[Deke Slayton]], another of the Mercury Seven who had been grounded for medical reasons and supervised the astronauts, planned, with Schirra's support, to command the mission if he gained medical clearance. When this was not forthcoming, Schirra remained in command of the crew, and in November 1966, Apollo{{spaces}}2 was cancelled and Schirra's crew assigned as backup to Grissom's.{{sfn|Cunningham 2003|pp=88–91}} [[Thomas P. Stafford]]—assigned at that point as the backup commander of the second orbital test—stated that the cancellation followed Schirra and his crew submitting a list of demands to NASA management (Schirra wanted the mission to include a lunar module and a CM capable of docking with it), and that the assignment as backups left Schirra complaining that Slayton and [[Chief Astronaut]] [[Alan Shepard]] had destroyed his career.{{sfn|Stafford 2002|pp=552–556}} | Schirra, Eisele, and Cunningham were first named as an Apollo crew on September 29, 1966. They were to fly a second Earth orbital test of the [[Apollo command and service module#Command module|Apollo Command Module]] (CM).{{sfn|French & Burgess 2007|pp=955–957}} Although delighted as a rookie to be assigned to a prime crew without having served as a backup, Cunningham was troubled by the fact that a second Earth orbital test flight, dubbed Apollo{{spaces}}2, seemed unnecessary if Apollo{{spaces}}1 was successful. He learned later that Director of Flight Crew Operations [[Deke Slayton]], another of the Mercury Seven who had been grounded for medical reasons and supervised the astronauts, planned, with Schirra's support, to command the mission if he gained medical clearance. When this was not forthcoming, Schirra remained in command of the crew, and in November 1966, Apollo{{spaces}}2 was cancelled and Schirra's crew assigned as backup to Grissom's.{{sfn|Cunningham 2003|pp=88–91}} [[Thomas P. Stafford]]—assigned at that point as the backup commander of the second orbital test—stated that the cancellation followed Schirra and his crew submitting a list of demands to NASA management (Schirra wanted the mission to include a lunar module and a CM capable of docking with it), and that the assignment as backups left Schirra complaining that Slayton and [[Chief Astronaut]] [[Alan Shepard]] had destroyed his career.{{sfn|Stafford 2002|pp=552–556}} | ||
On January 27, 1967, Grissom's crew was conducting a launch-pad test for their planned February 21 mission, when a fire broke out in the cabin, killing all three men.{{sfn|Chaikin 1995|pp=12–18}} A complete safety review of the Apollo program followed.{{sfn|Scott & Leonov|pp=193–195}} Soon after the fire, Slayton asked Schirra, Eisele and Cunningham to fly the first mission after the pause.{{sfn|Cunningham 2003|p=113}} Apollo 7 would use the Block{{spaces}}II spacecraft designed for the lunar missions, as opposed to the Block I CSM used for Apollo 1, which was intended only to be used for the early Earth-orbit missions, as it lacked the capability of docking with a lunar module. The CM and astronauts' spacesuits had been extensively redesigned, to reduce any chance of a repeat of the accident which killed the first crew.<ref name="Schirra's Obituary">{{ | On January 27, 1967, Grissom's crew was conducting a launch-pad test for their planned February 21 mission, when a fire broke out in the cabin, killing all three men.{{sfn|Chaikin 1995|pp=12–18}} A complete safety review of the Apollo program followed.{{sfn|Scott & Leonov|pp=193–195}} Soon after the fire, Slayton asked Schirra, Eisele and Cunningham to fly the first mission after the pause.{{sfn|Cunningham 2003|p=113}} Apollo 7 would use the Block{{spaces}}II spacecraft designed for the lunar missions, as opposed to the Block I CSM used for Apollo 1, which was intended only to be used for the early Earth-orbit missions, as it lacked the capability of docking with a lunar module. The CM and astronauts' spacesuits had been extensively redesigned, to reduce any chance of a repeat of the accident which killed the first crew.<ref name="Schirra's Obituary">{{Cite news |last=Goldstein |first=Richard |date=May 7, 2007 |orig-date=May 4, 2007 |title=Walter M. Schirra Jr., Astronaut, Dies at 84 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/04/us/04schirra.html |url-access=subscription |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |eissn=1553-8095 |issn=0362-4331 |id={{ProQuest|848154914}} |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429063551/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/04/us/04schirra.html |archive-date=April 29, 2013 |access-date=April 19, 2026 }}</ref> Schirra's crew would test the [[life support]], [[propulsion]], guidance and control systems during this "open-ended" mission (meaning it would be extended as it passed each test). The duration was limited to 11 days, reduced from the original 14-day limit for Apollo{{spaces}}1.<ref>{{cite news |last=Karrens |first=Ed (Announcer) |year=1968 |title=1968 Year in Review: 1968 in Space |url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/Audio/Events-of-1968/1968-in-Space |work=UPI.com |type=Radio transcript |publisher=[[E. W. Scripps Company|E. W. Scripps]] |agency=[[United Press International]] |access-date=July 6, 2013}}</ref> | ||
The backup crew consisted of Stafford as commander, [[John Young (astronaut)|John W. Young]] as command module pilot, and [[Eugene Cernan|Eugene A. Cernan]] as lunar module pilot. They became the prime crew of [[Apollo 10]].{{sfn|Orloff & Harland 2006|p=568}} [[Ronald Evans (astronaut)|Ronald E. Evans]], [[John L. Swigert|John L. 'Jack' Swigert]], and [[Edward G. Givens]] were assigned to the support crew for the mission.{{sfn|Burgess & Doolan 2003|pp=296–301}} Givens died in a car accident on June 6, 1967, and [[William R. Pogue]] was assigned as his replacement. Evans was involved in hardware testing at [[Kennedy Space Center]] (KSC). Swigert was the launch [[capsule communicator]] (CAPCOM) and worked on the mission's operational aspects. Pogue spent time modifying procedures. The support crew also filled in when the primary and backup crews were unavailable.<ref>{{cite interview|url=https://historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov/JSCHistoryPortal/history/oral_histories/PogueWR/WRP_7-17-2000.pdf|interviewer=Kevin M. Rusnak|date=July 17, 2000|location=Houston, Texas|title=Oral History Transcript|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501104039/https://historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov/JSCHistoryPortal/history/oral_histories/PogueWR/WRP_7-17-2000.pdf|archive-date=May 1, 2019|url-status=dead|publisher=NASA|page=12-15<!-- this is a single page, not a span of pages -->|series=Johnson Space Center Oral History Project}}</ref> | The backup crew consisted of Stafford as commander, [[John Young (astronaut)|John W. Young]] as command module pilot, and [[Eugene Cernan|Eugene A. Cernan]] as lunar module pilot. They became the prime crew of [[Apollo 10]].{{sfn|Orloff & Harland 2006|p=568}} [[Ronald Evans (astronaut)|Ronald E. Evans]], [[John L. Swigert|John L. 'Jack' Swigert]], and [[Edward G. Givens]] were assigned to the support crew for the mission.{{sfn|Burgess & Doolan 2003|pp=296–301}} Givens died in a car accident on June 6, 1967, and [[William R. Pogue]] was assigned as his replacement. Evans was involved in hardware testing at [[Kennedy Space Center]] (KSC). Swigert was the launch [[capsule communicator]] (CAPCOM) and worked on the mission's operational aspects. Pogue spent time modifying procedures. The support crew also filled in when the primary and backup crews were unavailable.<ref>{{cite interview|url=https://historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov/JSCHistoryPortal/history/oral_histories/PogueWR/WRP_7-17-2000.pdf|interviewer=Kevin M. Rusnak|date=July 17, 2000|location=Houston, Texas|title=Oral History Transcript|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501104039/https://historycollection.jsc.nasa.gov/JSCHistoryPortal/history/oral_histories/PogueWR/WRP_7-17-2000.pdf|archive-date=May 1, 2019|url-status=dead|publisher=NASA|page=12-15<!-- this is a single page, not a span of pages -->|series=Johnson Space Center Oral History Project}}</ref> | ||
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==Preparation== | ==Preparation== | ||
[[File:AS-205 crew.jpg|thumb|right|Schirra's crew in training for Apollo{{spaces}}2, 1966]] | |||
According to Cunningham, Schirra originally had limited interest in making a third spaceflight, beginning to focus on his post-NASA career. Flying the first mission after the fire changed things: "Wally Schirra was being pictured as the man chosen to rescue the manned space program. And that was a task worthy of Wally's interest."{{sfn|Cunningham 2003|pp=115–116}} Eisele noted, "coming on the heels of the fire, we knew the fate and future of the entire manned space program—not to mention our own skins—was riding on the success or failure of Apollo{{spaces}}7."{{sfn|Eisele 2017|p=38}} | According to Cunningham, Schirra originally had limited interest in making a third spaceflight, beginning to focus on his post-NASA career. Flying the first mission after the fire changed things: "Wally Schirra was being pictured as the man chosen to rescue the manned space program. And that was a task worthy of Wally's interest."{{sfn|Cunningham 2003|pp=115–116}} Eisele noted, "coming on the heels of the fire, we knew the fate and future of the entire manned space program—not to mention our own skins—was riding on the success or failure of Apollo{{spaces}}7."{{sfn|Eisele 2017|p=38}} | ||
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The testing of the television resulted in a disagreement between the crew and Houston. Schirra stated at the time, "You've added two burns to this flight schedule, and you've added a urine water dump; and we have a new vehicle up here, and I can tell you at this point, TV will be delayed without any further discussion until after the rendezvous."<ref name = "fight" /> Schirra later wrote, "we'd resist anything that interfered with our main mission objectives. On this particular Saturday morning a TV program clearly interfered."{{sfn|Schirra 1988|p=202}} Eisele agreed in his memoirs, "We were preoccupied with preparations for that critical exercise and didn't want to divert our attention with what seemed to be trivialities at the time.{{spaces}}... Evidently the earth people felt differently; there was a real stink about the hotheaded, recalcitrant Apollo{{spaces}}7 crew who wouldn't take orders."{{sfn|Eisele 2017|pp=71–72}} French and Burgess wrote, "When this point is considered objectively—that in a front-loaded mission the rendezvous, alignment, and engine tests should be done before television shows—it is hard to argue with him [Schirra]."{{sfn|French & Burgess 2007|p=1026}} Although Slayton gave in to Schirra, the commander's attitude surprised flight controllers.<ref name = "fight" /> | The testing of the television resulted in a disagreement between the crew and Houston. Schirra stated at the time, "You've added two burns to this flight schedule, and you've added a urine water dump; and we have a new vehicle up here, and I can tell you at this point, TV will be delayed without any further discussion until after the rendezvous."<ref name = "fight" /> Schirra later wrote, "we'd resist anything that interfered with our main mission objectives. On this particular Saturday morning a TV program clearly interfered."{{sfn|Schirra 1988|p=202}} Eisele agreed in his memoirs, "We were preoccupied with preparations for that critical exercise and didn't want to divert our attention with what seemed to be trivialities at the time.{{spaces}}... Evidently the earth people felt differently; there was a real stink about the hotheaded, recalcitrant Apollo{{spaces}}7 crew who wouldn't take orders."{{sfn|Eisele 2017|pp=71–72}} French and Burgess wrote, "When this point is considered objectively—that in a front-loaded mission the rendezvous, alignment, and engine tests should be done before television shows—it is hard to argue with him [Schirra]."{{sfn|French & Burgess 2007|p=1026}} Although Slayton gave in to Schirra, the commander's attitude surprised flight controllers.<ref name = "fight" /> | ||
[[Image:The Apollo 7 crew is welcomed aboard the USS Essex.jpg|thumb|The crew is welcomed aboard | [[Image:The Apollo 7 crew is welcomed aboard the USS Essex.jpg|thumb|The crew is welcomed aboard [[USS Essex (CV-9)|USS ''Essex'']]]] | ||
On Day 8, after being asked to follow a new procedure passed up from the ground that caused the computer to freeze, Eisele radioed, "We didn't get the results that you were after. We didn't get a damn thing, in fact{{spaces}}... you bet your ass{{spaces}}... as far as we're concerned, somebody down there screwed up royally when he laid that one on us."{{sfn|French & Burgess 2007|p=1032}} Schirra later stated his belief that this was the one main occasion when Eisele upset Mission Control.{{sfn|French & Burgess 2007|p=1032}} The next day saw more conflict, with Schirra telling Mission Control after having to make repeated firings of the RCS | On Day 8, after being asked to follow a new procedure passed up from the ground that caused the computer to freeze, Eisele radioed, "We didn't get the results that you were after. We didn't get a damn thing, in fact{{spaces}}... you bet your ass{{spaces}}... as far as we're concerned, somebody down there screwed up royally when he laid that one on us."{{sfn|French & Burgess 2007|p=1032}} Schirra later stated his belief that this was the one main occasion when Eisele upset Mission Control.{{sfn|French & Burgess 2007|p=1032}} The next day saw more conflict, with Schirra telling Mission Control after having to make repeated firings of the RCS to keep the spacecraft stable during a test, "I wish you would find out the idiot's name who thought up this test. I want to find out, and I want to talk to him personally when I get back down."<ref name="fight"/> Eisele joined in, "While you are at it, find out who dreamed up 'P22 horizon test'; that is a beauty also."{{efn|"P22" refers to Program 22 of the [[Apollo Guidance Computer]], a means of getting a navigational fix on the spacecraft. Earlier in the day Eisele had been asked to perform "P22 horizon sightings," to which he initially replied, "What in the world is a P22 horizon sighting?"<ref>{{cite web|work=Apollo 7 Flight Journal|url=https://history.nasa.gov/afj/ap07fj/a7_12_day9.html|title=Day 9 (preliminary)|date=June 14, 2019|access-date=November 27, 2020}}</ref>}}<ref name="fight"/> | ||
A further source of tension between Mission Control and the crew was that Schirra repeatedly expressed the view that the reentry should be conducted with their helmets off. He perceived a risk that their eardrums might burst due to the sinus pressure from their colds, and they wanted to be able to [[Valsalva maneuver|pinch their noses and blow]] to equalize the pressure as it increased during reentry. This would have been impossible wearing the helmets. Over several days, Schirra refused advice from the ground that the helmets should be worn, stating it was his prerogative as commander to decide this, though Slayton warned him he would have to answer for it after the flight. Schirra stated in 1994, "In this case I had a cold, and I'd had enough discussion with the ground, and I didn't have much more time to talk about whether we would put the helmet on or off. I said, essentially, I'm on board, I'm commanding. They could wear all the black armbands they wanted if I was lost or if I lost my hearing. But I had the responsibility for getting through the mission."<ref name="fight"/> No helmets were worn during the entry. Director of Flight Operations [[Christopher C. Kraft]] demanded an explanation for what he believed was Schirra's insubordination from the CAPCOM, Stafford. Kraft later said, "Schirra was exercising his commander’s right to have the last word, and that was that."<ref name = "fight" /> | A further source of tension between Mission Control and the crew was that Schirra repeatedly expressed the view that the reentry should be conducted with their helmets off. He perceived a risk that their eardrums might burst due to the sinus pressure from their colds, and they wanted to be able to [[Valsalva maneuver|pinch their noses and blow]] to equalize the pressure as it increased during reentry. This would have been impossible wearing the helmets. Over several days, Schirra refused advice from the ground that the helmets should be worn, stating it was his prerogative as commander to decide this, though Slayton warned him he would have to answer for it after the flight. Schirra stated in 1994, "In this case I had a cold, and I'd had enough discussion with the ground, and I didn't have much more time to talk about whether we would put the helmet on or off. I said, essentially, I'm on board, I'm commanding. They could wear all the black armbands they wanted if I was lost or if I lost my hearing. But I had the responsibility for getting through the mission."<ref name="fight"/> No helmets were worn during the entry. Director of Flight Operations [[Christopher C. Kraft]] demanded an explanation for what he believed was Schirra's insubordination from the CAPCOM, Stafford. Kraft later said, "Schirra was exercising his commander’s right to have the last word, and that was that."<ref name = "fight" /> | ||
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Kranz stated in 1998, "we all look back now with a longer perspective. Schirra really wasn't on us as bad as it seemed at the time.{{spaces}}... Bottom line was, even with a grumpy commander, we got the job done as a team."{{sfn|French & Burgess 2007|pp=1073–1074}} | Kranz stated in 1998, "we all look back now with a longer perspective. Schirra really wasn't on us as bad as it seemed at the time.{{spaces}}... Bottom line was, even with a grumpy commander, we got the job done as a team."{{sfn|French & Burgess 2007|pp=1073–1074}} | ||
None of the Apollo 7 crew members flew in space again.{{sfn|French & Burgess 2007|pp=1077–1078}} According to Jim Lovell, "Apollo{{spaces}}7 was a very successful flight—they did an excellent job—but it was a very contentious flight. They all teed off the ground people quite considerably, and I think that kind of put a stop on future flights [for them]."{{sfn|French & Burgess 2007|pp=1077–1078}} Schirra had announced, before the flight,<ref name=hboldst>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ia1VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BOEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6602%2C4771765 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location= | None of the Apollo 7 crew members flew in space again.{{sfn|French & Burgess 2007|pp=1077–1078}} According to Jim Lovell, "Apollo{{spaces}}7 was a very successful flight—they did an excellent job—but it was a very contentious flight. They all teed off the ground people quite considerably, and I think that kind of put a stop on future flights [for them]."{{sfn|French & Burgess 2007|pp=1077–1078}} Schirra had announced, before the flight,<ref name=hboldst>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ia1VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BOEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6602%2C4771765 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Oregon |agency=Associated Press |last=Benedict |first=Howard |title=Oldest U.S. astronaut eyes retirement |date=September 22, 1968 |page=8A}}</ref> his retirement from NASA and the Navy, effective July 1, 1969.{{sfn|Schirra 1988|p=189}} The other two crew members had their spaceflight careers stunted by their involvement in Apollo{{spaces}}7; by some accounts, Kraft told Slayton he was unwilling to work in future with any member of the crew.{{sfn|French & Burgess 2007|pp=1074–1075}} Cunningham heard the rumors that Kraft had said this and confronted him in early 1969; Kraft denied making the statement "but his reaction wasn't exactly outraged innocence."{{sfn|Cunningham 2003|p=183}} Eisele's career may also have been affected by becoming the first active astronaut to divorce, followed by a quick remarriage, and an indifferent performance as backup CMP for Apollo{{spaces}}10.{{sfn|Cunningham 2003|pp=217–220}} He resigned from the Astronaut Office in 1970 though he remained with NASA at the [[Langley Research Center]] in Virginia until 1972, when he was eligible for retirement.{{sfn|French & Burgess 2007|pp=1116–1121}}{{sfn|Eisele 2017|pp=121–122}} Cunningham was made the leader of the Astronaut Office's [[Skylab]] division. He related that he was informally offered command of the first Skylab crew, but when this instead went to [[Apollo 12]] commander [[Pete Conrad]], with Cunningham offered the position of backup commander, he resigned as an astronaut in 1971.{{sfn|French & Burgess 2007|pp=1079–1082}}{{sfn|Cunningham 2003|p=291}} | ||
Schirra, Eisele and Cunningham were the only crew, of all the Apollo, Skylab and Apollo–Soyuz missions, who had not been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal immediately following their missions (though Schirra had received the medal twice before, for his Mercury and Gemini missions). Therefore, NASA administrator [[Michael D. Griffin]] decided to belatedly award the medals to the crew in October 2008, "[f]or exemplary performance in meeting all the Apollo{{spaces}}7 mission objectives and more on the first crewed Apollo mission, paving the way for the first flight to the Moon on Apollo{{spaces}}8 and the first crewed lunar landing on Apollo{{spaces}}11." Only Cunningham was still alive at the time as Eisele had died in 1987 and Schirra in 2007.<ref name="Schirra's Obituary" /><ref name="Apollo Crew Honored 2008" /> Eisele's widow accepted his medal, and Apollo 8 crew member [[Bill Anders]] accepted Schirra's. Other Apollo astronauts, including [[Neil Armstrong]], [[Buzz Aldrin]], and [[Alan Bean]], were present at the award ceremony. Kraft, who had been in conflict with the crew during the mission, sent a conciliatory video message of congratulations, saying: "We gave you a hard time once but you certainly survived that and have done extremely well since{{spaces}}... I am frankly, very proud to call you a friend."<ref name="Apollo Crew Honored 2008" /> | Schirra, Eisele and Cunningham were the only crew, of all the Apollo, Skylab and Apollo–Soyuz missions, who had not been awarded the Distinguished Service Medal immediately following their missions (though Schirra had received the medal twice before, for his Mercury and Gemini missions). Therefore, NASA administrator [[Michael D. Griffin]] decided to belatedly award the medals to the crew in October 2008, "[f]or exemplary performance in meeting all the Apollo{{spaces}}7 mission objectives and more on the first crewed Apollo mission, paving the way for the first flight to the Moon on Apollo{{spaces}}8 and the first crewed lunar landing on Apollo{{spaces}}11." Only Cunningham was still alive at the time as Eisele had died in 1987 and Schirra in 2007.<ref name="Schirra's Obituary" /><ref name="Apollo Crew Honored 2008" /> Eisele's widow accepted his medal, and Apollo 8 crew member [[Bill Anders]] accepted Schirra's. Other Apollo astronauts, including [[Neil Armstrong]], [[Buzz Aldrin]], and [[Alan Bean]], were present at the award ceremony. Kraft, who had been in conflict with the crew during the mission, sent a conciliatory video message of congratulations, saying to Cunningham: "We gave you a hard time once but you certainly survived that and have done extremely well since{{spaces}}... I am frankly, very proud to call you a friend."<ref name="Apollo Crew Honored 2008" /> | ||
==Mission insignia== | ==Mission insignia== | ||
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==Gallery== | ==Gallery== | ||
<gallery | <gallery widths="180" heights="160" mode="packed"> | ||
File:Apollo 7 photographed in flight by ALOTS (68-HC-641).jpg|Apollo 7 in flight | File:Apollo 7 photographed in flight by ALOTS (68-HC-641).jpg|Apollo 7 in flight | ||
File:Saturn IB Second Stage with open LM adapter.jpg|Distant view of the S-IVB stage | File:Saturn IB Second Stage with open LM adapter.jpg|Distant view of the S-IVB stage | ||
File:AS07-11-2000 (21355660044).jpg|View of the [[Sinai Peninsula]] from Apollo 7 | File:AS07-11-2000 (21355660044).jpg|View of the [[Sinai Peninsula]] from Apollo 7 | ||
File:Hurricane Gladys 1968.jpg|[[Hurricane Gladys (1968)|Hurricane Gladys]] seen from Apollo 7 on October 17, [[1968 Atlantic hurricane season|1968]] | |||
File:Apollo 7 Command Module Museum.jpg|The Apollo 7 command module on display | File:Apollo 7 Command Module Museum.jpg|The Apollo 7 command module on display | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| Line 231: | Line 231: | ||
* {{cite book|last1=French|first1=Francis|author-link1=Francis French (author)|last2=Burgess|first2=Colin|author-link2=Colin Burgess (author)|isbn=978-0-8032-1128-5|year=2007|publisher=[[University of Nebraska Press]]|title=In the Shadow of the Moon : a Challenging Journey to Tranquility, 1965-1969|edition=eBook|ref={{sfnRef|French & Burgess 2007}}}} | * {{cite book|last1=French|first1=Francis|author-link1=Francis French (author)|last2=Burgess|first2=Colin|author-link2=Colin Burgess (author)|isbn=978-0-8032-1128-5|year=2007|publisher=[[University of Nebraska Press]]|title=In the Shadow of the Moon : a Challenging Journey to Tranquility, 1965-1969|edition=eBook|ref={{sfnRef|French & Burgess 2007}}}} | ||
* {{cite book|last1=Orloff|first1=Richard W.|last2=Harland|first2=David M.|author-link2=David M. Harland|title=Apollo: The Definitive Sourcebook|year=2006|publisher=[[Springer Science+Business Media]]|isbn=978-0-387-30043-6|ref={{sfnRef|Orloff & Harland 2006}}}} | * {{cite book|last1=Orloff|first1=Richard W.|last2=Harland|first2=David M.|author-link2=David M. Harland|title=Apollo: The Definitive Sourcebook|year=2006|publisher=[[Springer Science+Business Media]]|isbn=978-0-387-30043-6|ref={{sfnRef|Orloff & Harland 2006}}}} | ||
* {{cite book |last1=Schirra |first1=Wally |author-link1=Wally Schirra |last2=Billings |first2=Richard N. |year=1988 |title=Schirra's Space |series=Bluejacket Books |publisher=[[United States Naval Institute#Publications and products|Naval Institute Press]] |isbn=978-1-55750-792-1|ref={{sfnRef|Schirra 1988}}}} | * {{cite book |last1=Schirra |first1=Wally |author-link1=Wally Schirra |last2=Billings |first2=Richard N. |author2-link = Richard N. Billings|year=1988 |title=Schirra's Space |series=Bluejacket Books |publisher=[[United States Naval Institute#Publications and products|Naval Institute Press]] |isbn=978-1-55750-792-1|ref={{sfnRef|Schirra 1988}}}} | ||
* {{cite book |last1=Scott |first1=David |edition=eBook|author-link2=Alexei Leonov|last2=Leonov|first2=Alexei |others=with Christine Toomey|title=Two Sides of the Moon: Our Story of the Cold War Space Race |year=2006 |publisher=[[St. Martin's Griffin]] |isbn=978-0-312-30866-7|ref={{sfnRef|Scott & Leonov}}}} | * {{cite book |last1=Scott |first1=David |edition=eBook|author-link2=Alexei Leonov|last2=Leonov|first2=Alexei |others=with Christine Toomey|title=Two Sides of the Moon: Our Story of the Cold War Space Race |year=2006 |publisher=[[St. Martin's Griffin]] |isbn=978-0-312-30866-7|ref={{sfnRef|Scott & Leonov}}}} | ||
* {{cite book |last1=Shepard |first1=Alan B. |last2=Slayton |first2=Donald K. |author-link2=Deke Slayton |last3=Barbree |first3=Jay |author-link3=Jay Barbree |last4=Benedict |first4=Howard|title=Moon Shot: The Inside Story of America's Race to the Moon |title-link=Moon Shot |date=1994 |publisher=[[Turner Publishing Company]] |isbn=978-1-878685-54-4 |oclc=29846731 |lccn=94003027 |ref={{sfnRef|Shepard, Slayton, & Barbree 1994}}}} | * {{cite book |last1=Shepard |first1=Alan B. |last2=Slayton |first2=Donald K. |author-link2=Deke Slayton |last3=Barbree |first3=Jay |author-link3=Jay Barbree |last4=Benedict |first4=Howard|title=Moon Shot: The Inside Story of America's Race to the Moon |title-link=Moon Shot |date=1994 |publisher=[[Turner Publishing Company]] |isbn=978-1-878685-54-4 |oclc=29846731 |lccn=94003027 |ref={{sfnRef|Shepard, Slayton, & Barbree 1994}}}} | ||
| Line 270: | Line 270: | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Apollo 07}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Apollo 07}} | ||
[[Category:Apollo 7]] | [[Category:Apollo 7| ]] | ||
[[Category:1968 in the United States]] | [[Category:1968 in the United States]] | ||
[[Category:Apollo | [[Category:Crewed Apollo missions|Apollo 07]] | ||
[[Category:Spacecraft launched in 1968]] | [[Category:Spacecraft launched in 1968]] | ||
[[Category:Spacecraft which reentered in 1968]] | [[Category:Spacecraft which reentered in 1968]] | ||