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Today in History: Apollo 7 launches first three-man American space mission

By Drooid · Oct 11, 2026, 10:38 AM UTC · How we work

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Summary

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On 11 October 1968 NASA launched Apollo 7 from Launch Complex 34 at Cape Kennedy, Florida, marking the first crewed Apollo flight and the United States’ first three-person space mission since the 1967 Apollo 1 tragedy. Commanded by Walter Schirra with Donn Eisele and Walter Cunningham, the mission restored confidence in the program.

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Story summary

On 11 October 1968 NASA launched Apollo 7 from Launch Complex 34 at Cape Kennedy, Florida, marking the first crewed Apollo flight and the United States’ first three-person space mission since the 1967 Apollo 1 tragedy. Commanded by Walter Schirra with Donn Eisele and Walter Cunningham, the mission restored confidence in the program.