Apollo 7 launchIn 1968, the first manned Apollo mission, Apollo 7, was launched on a Saturn 1-B rocket from Cape Kennedy. The astronauts onboard were the CaptainWally Schirra, Jr. (Navy), with crew members Donn Fulton Eisele (Air Force) and R. Walter Cunningham (civilian). They circled for 11 days, up to 183 miles above the Earth, in 90 minute orbits. They tested maneuvering the Apollo, first by detaching it from the upper stage of the rocket, Next, they turned the Apollo around to reposition its nose toward the rocket. On the subsequent Apollo 11mission, the vehicle would link to the moon landing craft carried inside the cylinder. For Apollo 11, the stage would then boost the combined crafts towards the moon.« |
