Apollo
Apollo 7
Apollo 7 was the first crewed Apollo mission and NASA's first human spaceflight after the Apollo 1 tragedy. During an eleven-day Earth-orbit mission, the crew thoroughly tested the redesigned Apollo Command and Service Module, proving it was safe for future missions to the Moon and restoring confidence in the Apollo Program.
Launch
October 11, 1968
Duration
10 days, 20 hours, 9 minutes
Crew
Uncrewed
Mission record
Apollo archive entry · Successful
Mission Overview
The mission
Apollo 7 was the first crewed Apollo mission and NASA's first human spaceflight after the Apollo 1 tragedy. During an eleven-day Earth-orbit mission, the crew thoroughly tested the redesigned Apollo Command and Service Module, proving it was safe for future missions to the Moon and restoring confidence in the Apollo Program.
Mission Details
Program
Apollo
Launch
October 11, 1968
Duration
10 days, 20 hours, 9 minutes
Status
Successful
Mission by the Numbers
Mission Statistics
Mission Type
Crewed Earth-Orbit Qualification Flight
Launch Vehicle
Saturn IB AS-205
Crew
0 astronauts
Status
Successful
Mission Goals
Mission objectives
- 01
Perform the first crewed flight of the Apollo Command and Service Module.
- 02
Qualify the redesigned Apollo spacecraft for future lunar missions.
- 03
Evaluate spacecraft performance during a long-duration mission.
- 04
Demonstrate operation of the Service Propulsion System engine.
- 05
Verify crew life-support systems.
- 06
Test environmental control systems.
- 07
Evaluate guidance, navigation, and control performance.
- 08
Demonstrate rendezvous capability using the spent S-IVB stage.
- 09
Validate spacecraft communications systems.
- 10
Evaluate fuel cell electrical power generation.
- 11
Demonstrate television broadcasting from space.
- 12
Collect biomedical data during an extended orbital mission.
- 13
Verify spacecraft performance before committing crews to lunar missions.
- 14
Recover the crew and spacecraft safely after reentry.
Mission Timeline
January 27, 1967
Apollo 1 Tragedy
The Apollo 1 cabin fire claimed the lives of Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee, leading NASA to redesign the Apollo spacecraft before another crewed mission could fly.
1967-1968
Spacecraft Redesign
Engineers implemented thousands of design improvements, including a safer hatch, nonflammable materials, improved wiring, and numerous reliability upgrades throughout the Command Module.
October 11, 1968 · 11:02 a.m. EDT
Launch
Apollo 7 lifted off aboard Saturn IB AS-205 from Launch Complex 34, becoming the first crewed Apollo mission.
Minutes After Launch
Earth Orbit Achieved
The spacecraft successfully entered low Earth orbit, beginning NASA's first crewed Apollo mission.
Flight Day 1
Initial Spacecraft Checkout
The crew verified propulsion, electrical systems, communications, guidance, and environmental controls before beginning the mission's extensive test program.
Flight Day 2
Service Propulsion System Test
The powerful SPS engine was fired successfully, validating one of the most critical systems required for future lunar missions.
Early Mission
Crew Develops Head Colds
All three astronauts developed severe colds that persisted for most of the mission, complicating daily operations and creating concerns for reentry.
Flight Days 3-5
Orbital Maneuvers
Apollo 7 completed numerous orbital maneuvers while evaluating spacecraft handling, navigation accuracy, and rendezvous procedures.
Flight Day 5
Rendezvous Demonstration
The crew maneuvered the Command and Service Module relative to the spent S-IVB stage, demonstrating rendezvous techniques that would later be essential in lunar orbit.
Flight Day 6
First Live Television Broadcast
Apollo 7 transmitted America's first live television broadcast from a crewed spacecraft, giving millions of viewers an unprecedented look inside the Command Module.
Flight Days 6-10
Continued Systems Testing
The crew repeatedly evaluated spacecraft guidance, electrical systems, communications, environmental controls, fuel cells, and propulsion while completing one of the most comprehensive engineering test programs ever flown.
Throughout the Mission
Tense Exchanges with Mission Control
Illness, fatigue, and scheduling disagreements led to several well-known disagreements between Commander Walter Schirra and Mission Control. Despite the friction, all critical mission objectives remained on schedule.
Final Days
Final SPS Evaluations
Additional Service Propulsion System burns demonstrated consistent engine performance, confirming the spacecraft's primary propulsion system was ready for lunar missions.
October 22, 1968
Reentry
Apollo 7 successfully reentered Earth's atmosphere after nearly eleven days in orbit, validating the redesigned Command Module under operational conditions.
October 22, 1968
Splashdown
The Command Module safely splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean southeast of Bermuda, completing the longest American spaceflight up to that time.
Postflight
Spacecraft Certified
NASA declared the redesigned Apollo Command and Service Module fully qualified for lunar missions following Apollo 7's successful completion.
December 1968
Apollo 8 Approved
Confidence gained from Apollo 7 allowed NASA to approve Apollo 8's historic mission to become the first crewed spacecraft to orbit the Moon.
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