22 October 1968, 11:11:48 UTC

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The Apollo 7 command module descends to the surface of the Atlantic Ocean under three parachutes, 22 October 1968. (NASA)
The Apollo 7 command module descends to the surface of the Atlantic Ocean under three parachutes, 22 October 1968. (NASA)

22 October 1968, 11:11:48 UTC: The first manned mission of the Apollo Program, Apollo 7, “splashed down” in the North Atlantic Ocean. The three man crew, Walter M. Schirra, Donn F. Eisele, and R. Walter Cunningham, had completed 163 orbits in 10 days, 20 hours, 9 minutes, 3 seconds. The spacecraft landed 7 nautical miles (13 kilometers) from the recovery ship, USS Essex (CVS-9).

The crew of Apollo 7 on the flight deck of USS Essex (CVS-9), 22 October 1968. Left to right, Captain Walter M. Schirra, USN; Major Donn F. Eisele, USAF; Major R. Walter Cunningham, USMC. (NASA)
The crew of Apollo 7 on the flight deck of USS Essex (CVS-9), 22 October 1968. Left to right, Captain Walter M. Schirra, USN; Major Donn F. Eisele, USAF; Major R. Walter Cunningham, USMC. (NASA)

© 2016, Bryan R. Swopes

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About Bryan Swopes

Bryan R. Swopes grew up in Southern California in the 1950s–60s, near the center of America's aerospace industry. He has had a life-long interest in aviation and space flight. Bryan is a retired commercial helicopter pilot and flight instructor.

10 thoughts on “22 October 1968, 11:11:48 UTC”

      1. In nine months, we tested out two new spacecraft and landed on the moon with those new spacecraft. Unbelievable.

        1. Those were exciting times, James. My father, who was a program manager at Rocketdyne, used to say that not a single dollar was sent into space. It was all spent right here on Earth, with high-paying jobs, advances in technology that would have come so much slower (or not at all) without the Space Program. And the people who earned those salaries spent the money locally, buying homes, cars, appliances, services. The money rippled through the economy, benefiting so many others who did not work in the programs. . . .

  3. I simply can’t imagine being stuck in that tiny spacecraft with two other guys fo 10 days straight!

    1. You got that right! I couldn’t do it either.

      Just think of those going to Mars…if we ever do. Yikes!

  4. Hi Bryan,

    I’ve always wondered how the three chutes were kept seperated like that while descending. Do you know how that was accomplished?

    1. Pete, the Ringsail parachutes are actually very complex constructions. The Ringsail was designed by Edgar G. Ewing of Northrop Corporation, Ventura Division. He later worked for Irvin Aerospace, Inc. Several highly technical papers are available online, and I do not pretend to understand them. The inflated canopy creates an aerodynamic surface. Air is released through the slots in the canopy and controls the flow over this surface. I believe that the air flowing around the clustered canopies forces them apart, but that is probably too simplified an explanation.

  5. Thanks Bryan. I always appreciate your personalized responses! Thanks again for your great website!

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