Apollo 7 was the first crewed mission in the Apollo program to test the Apollo Command and Service Module (CSM) in low Earth orbit. The mission's primary goal was to test the spacecraft's systems and capabilities in Earth orbit to ensure it was ready for future crewed missions to the Moon. This mission was headed by Walter M. Schirra Jr as commander, Donn F. Eisele as command module pilot, and Walter Cunningham as lunar module pilot. Apollo 7 was launched from Kennedy Space Center atop a Saturn IB rocket.The spacecraft orbited the Earth multiple times, testing its ability to maneuver and operate for extended durations in space. The mission included the first live television broadcasts from a crewed American spacecraft, providing the public with real-time views of space and the crew's activities.

Apollo 7 successfully re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and splashed down in the North Atlantic Ocean. The crew was recovered by the USS Essex.