Description

Apollo 7 Patch

Space fans and collectors!  Enjoy the beautifully embroidered Apollo 7 Patch.  It is the perfect tribute to this crew and their mission!

• 4 inches
• Embroidered/Sew On
• US Naval Aviator Owned Business

Apollo 7, launched from Cape Kennedy Air Force Station, Florida, on October 11, 1968, holds a significant place in space exploration history. It was the first crewed flight in NASA’s Apollo program, marking the resumption of human spaceflight after the tragic fire that claimed the lives of three astronauts during the Apollo 1 launch rehearsal test on January 27, 1967¹².

Here are some key details about Apollo 7:

• Mission Duration: The mission lasted 10 days, 20 hours, 9 minutes, and 3 seconds during which the crew orbited the Earth 163 times¹.
• Crew Members:
  • Walter M. Schirra (Commander)
  • Donn F. Eisele (Command Module Pilot)
  • R. Walter Cunningham (Lunar Module Pilot, even though Apollo 7 did not carry a Lunar Module)¹.
• Achievements:
  • Testing the Command and Service Module (CSM): Apollo 7 was the first test of the command and service module with a crew. The astronauts monitored the construction of their CSM extensively, ensuring safety improvements after the Apollo 1 tragedy.
  • Live Television Broadcast: Apollo 7 transmitted the first live television broadcast from a crewed American spacecraft.
  • Technical Success: Despite tensions between the crew and ground controllers, the mission was a complete technical success, boosting NASA’s confidence for subsequent missions.
  • Preparation for Apollo 8: Apollo 7 paved the way for Apollo 8, which would orbit the Moon two months later¹³.

The crew’s dedication to safety and meticulous monitoring during spacecraft construction contributed to the mission’s success. Although none of the Apollo 7 crew flew in space again, their achievements remain a testament to human ingenuity and determination in the face of challenges