MANNED SPACEFLIGHT A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z                    HOME ABOUT CATEGORIES SITE MAP COPYRIGHT ADVERTISE CONTACT entire Web this site Apollo 7 Saturn IVB stage used for Apollo 7 rendezvous The first manned flight in the Apollo Project. It was launched by a Saturn IB (unlike all subsequent Apollo missions which used the Saturn V), conducted in Earth orbit, and devoted to testing guidance and control systems, spacesuit design, and work routines. During rendezvous and station-keeping operations, the Command and Service Module (CSM) approached to within 21 meters of the spent Saturn IVB stage that had boosted the spacecraft into orbit. A Lunar Module was not flown on this mission. The Apollo 7 mission spent more time in space than all the Soviet space flights combined up to that time. Commander Walter Schirra Lunar Module pilot Walter Cunningham Command Module pilot Donn Eisele Launch Oct. 11, 1968; 16:02:45 UT. Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 34 Mission duration 260 hr 9 min. 3 sec. (~10 d 20 hr) Earth orbits 163 Splashdown Oct. 22, 1968; 11:11:48 UT (7:11:48 a.m. EDT) Retrieval site Atlantic Ocean 27° 32' N, 64° 04' W Highlights First American three-man mission First flight of Block II Apollo Spacecraft First flight of the Apollo space suits First live national TV from space during a manned space flight Related category    • MANNED SPACEFLIGHT Also on this site: Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living Encyclopedia of History Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site) BACK TO TOP