Walter Cunningham is an American astronaut who flew on the Apollo 7 mission in 1968. He was born in Creston, Iowa on March 16, 1932. After completing his education, Cunningham joined the United States Marine Corps and served as a fighter pilot.
In 1963, Cunningham was selected to be an astronaut as part of NASA’s third group of astronauts, known as the “Eighteen Gonzo’s.” He served as the Lunar Module Pilot on the Apollo 7 mission, which was the first manned mission of the Apollo program. The mission was launched on October 11, 1968 and orbited the Earth 163 times before returning on October 22, 1968.
After his time at NASA, Cunningham worked in the private sector and served as a consultant for various companies and organizations. He also wrote several books about his experiences as an astronaut and his thoughts on space exploration. Cunningham is currently retired and resides in Texas.