Apollo 7, Lunar Module Pilot, R. Walter Cunningham working inside the Command Module. Credit: NASA
Walter Cunningham was an American astronaut who served as the lunar module pilot on the Apollo 7 mission in 1968. After leaving NASA in 1971, Cunningham worked in personal service and likewise served as a member of the Reagan administrations Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board.
Previous astronaut Walter Cunningham, who flew into area on Apollo 7, the very first flight with team in NASAs Apollo Program, passed away early Tuesday morning (January 3, 2022) in Houston. He was 90 years old.
” Walt Cunningham was a fighter pilot, physicist, and a business owner– but, above all, he was an explorer. On Apollo 7, the very first launch of a crewed Apollo objective, Walt and his crewmates made history, leading the way for the Artemis Generation we see today,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “NASA will always remember his contributions to our nations space program and sends our condolences to the Cunningham household.”
Cunningham was designated the lunar module pilot for the 11-day flight of Apollo 7, which released on October 11, 1968, and was the very first human flight test of the Apollo spacecraft. Cunningham and the Apollo 7 crew also made an Emmy in the kind of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Special Trustee Award.
Cunningham was born upon March 16, 1932, in Creston, Iowa. He finished from Venice High School, in Venice, California, before going on to get a Bachelor of Arts with honors in physics in 1960 and a Master of Arts with difference in physics in 1961 from the University of California at Los Angeles. He then finished a doctorate in physics with exception of thesis at the Advanced Management Program in the Harvard Graduate School of Business in 1974.
NASA astronaut Walter Cunningham, Apollo 7 lunar module pilot, is photographed during the Apollo 7 mission. Credit: NASA
The Cunningham household offered the following declaration: “We wish to reveal our enormous pride in the life that he lived, and our deep thankfulness for the male that he was– a patriot, an explorer, pilot, astronaut, father, brother, and partner. The world has lost another real hero, and we will miss him dearly.”
He signed up with the Navy in 1951 and served on active service with the U.S. Marine Corps, retiring with the rank of colonel. He flew 54 objectives as a night fighter pilot in Korea. He worked as a researcher for the Rand Corporation for three years. While with Rand, he worked on categorized defense studies and problems related to the Earths magnetosphere. Cunningham has actually built up more than 4,500 hours of flying time in 40 various aircraft, including more than 3,400 in jet aircraft.
Cunningham was picked as an astronaut in 1963 as part of NASAs third astronaut class.
” On behalf of NASAs Johnson Space Center, we are beholden to Walts service to our nation and dedication to the development of human area expedition,” stated Vanessa Wyche, center director. “Walts accomplished tradition will continue to work as a motivation to us all.”
The Apollo 7 prime crew, from left to right, are astronauts Donn F. Eisele, command module pilot, Walter M. Schirra Jr., leader; and Walter Cunningham, lunar module pilot. Credit: NASA
Prior to his assignment to the Apollo 7 crew, Cunningham was on the prime team for Apollo 2 till it was canceled and the backup lunar module pilot for Apollo 1.
Cunningham was designated the lunar module pilot for the 11-day flight of Apollo 7, which introduced on October 11, 1968, and was the first human flight test of the Apollo spacecraft. The team effectively completed 8 tests, igniting the service module engine, determining the precision of performance of all spacecraft systems, and providing the first live television transmission of onboard crew activities.
Cunninghams last task at NASA Johnson was chief of the Skylab branch of the Flight Crew Directorate. In this capability, he was accountable for the operational inputs for five major pieces of manned space hardware, 2 various launch cars, and 56 major experiments that comprised the Skylab Program.
Cunningham retired from NASA in 1971 and would go on to lead numerous technical and financial companies. He served in senior management roles with Century Development Corp., Hydrotech Development Company, and 3D International. Cunningham likewise was a longtime investor and business owner, organizing little organizations and private financial investment companies. He likewise was a frequent keynote speaker and radio talk show host.
His many awards include the NASA Exceptional Service Medal and NASA Distinguished Service Medal. For his service, he was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame, International Space Hall of Fame, Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame, San Diego Air and Space Museum Hall of Fame, and Houston Hall of Fame. Cunningham and the Apollo 7 crew also earned an Emmy in the kind of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Special Trustee Award.
Walter Cunningham was an American astronaut who served as the lunar module pilot on the Apollo 7 objective in 1968. After leaving NASA in 1971, Cunningham worked in private company and also served as a member of the Reagan administrations Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board. “NASA will always remember his contributions to our nations area program and sends our condolences to the Cunningham family.”