Apollo 7 Launch - 11 October 1968

Launch of the first manned Apollo mission. Wally Schirra, Walter Cunningham and Don Eisele were the crew members.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• aviation
• space
• NASA
• Apollo
• Saturn
• rocket

[Chuckjagermeister]

That's the Saturn IV. For simple Earth orbital testing of Lunar equipment. The Saturn 5 added two more stages for a trans-lunar burn.

[dave46563]

do you mean Saturn IB?

[Doctor699]

@dave46563 the Saturn SIVB was used for TLI (Trans Lunar Injection) So this rocket is just for low earth orbit as you say, i'm not sure about apollo 9 however, due to having to lift the LEM up there.

[dave46563]

@Doctor699 Apollo 9 used a Saturn V. Your probably aware of an Apollo flight profile so i wont go into too much detail. The SIVB was unique at the time because it could be re-fired a second time. On lunar bound flights it was used for TLI as you mentioned. On Apollo 9 it was 'safed' when earth orbit was achieved. All the crew had to do was dock with the LEM and extract it from the SIVB. I think it later burned up in the atmosphere.

[ipsos2007]

People who say that man did not go to the Moon should consult a psychiatrist.

[jawknee06]

@Chuckjagermeister Sorry - but that's basically wrong in every aspect.  It's a Saturn 1B. Apollo 1 was planned to be on a Saturn 1B. Apollo 7 and three Skylab missions where the only manned Saturn 1B launches. The Saturn V replaced the first stage with two larger diameter stages. The upper stages were the same on the Apollo missions, the SIVB and the CSM (Command Service Module). The LM (9-17) was in the tapered area between the SIVB and the CSM. This may still be my favorite launch.

[22flowerlady]

who else is here from watching appollo 18?

[reneecalling]

I remember the Apollo program as a kid, and I still get awestruck watching just the launches. That was a time when men dared to dream.

[YDDES]

@TheSpiritof1969 Anyhow, if USA had built the "Freedom" all by themselves without Russia, they had planned to build unmanned, wingless, expendable "shuttles" with the same engines, tanks and boosters, to launch the really heavy parts.

[YDDES]

@atsf1920 Actually it was one Jupiter tank-section in the middle and 8 Redstone tank-sections around it. 8 H-1 rocket engines propelled the craft.

[TheSpiritof1969]

@YDDES

I agree the ISS has no real goal. I suspect the Americans involved the Russians early on because they knew they were already in trouble with the Shuttle. It clearly was not going to be capable of servicing the construction and running of the ISS and they needed the production line made and more reliable Russian launch system to deliver crews and supplies.

Shame they scrapped the Saturn before they built the ISS

[atsf1920]

The Saturn 1B rocket used for this launch was intended only to boost the payload into earth orbit. The CSM, LM housing, and SIVB (here used as a second stage) are all full-size. The first stage, however, was a money-saving compromise-- eight Redstone rockets lashed together . . .

[lolle18]

@mashamorgan Manned spaceflight is going away from NASA to lean commercial carriers plus Russia, China and maybe Europe.

USA will soon be out of business, in both spaceflight and economy.

Your time's over, Uncle Sam.