Nasa boss Bill Nelson recognized Walter Cunningham († 90) as an explorer who, along with his comrades, paved the way for today’s “Artemis” generation. On October 11, 1968, Cunningham set off on the eleven-day Apollo 7 mission under Walter Schirra and with Donn Fulton Eisele. The mission was a success for NASA – many tests provided important information. This paved the way for the moon landing a year later.
There was much at stake in the “Apollo 7” mission: about a year and a half ago, three NASA astronauts died in a fire in the “Apollo 1” capsule during an exercise. The 263-hour, approximately 7.2 million-kilometer flight ended on October 22, 1968, in the Atlantic Ocean. For the first time, “Apollo 7” had a camera that allowed it to be broadcast live on television – a PR blow for Nasa, and even won a famous US television award, an Emmy for it. Eisele died in 1987 and Schirra in 2007.
“The world lost real heroes”
Cunningham was born on March 16, 1932, in Creston, Iowa. Qualified physicist, selected as astronaut in 1963. He left NASA in 1971 and then ran several companies. He also hosted radio talk shows. Cunningham leaves behind his wife and two children. His family said of Walter’s death: “The world has lost another true hero and we will miss him greatly.”
(SDA)