Apollo 7 was the first crewed mission of the Apollo program, launched on October 11, 1968. It aimed to test the Command and Service Module in low Earth orbit. The mission lasted 11 days, during which the crew conducted various tests and demonstrated the spacecraft's capabilities. The crew consisted of astronauts Walter M. Schirra, Donn F. Eisele, and Walter Cunningham. They successfully completed 163 orbits around Earth and provided valuable data that helped pave the way for future missions, including the historic Apollo 11 moon landing. Apollo 7 marked a significant step in the United States' space exploration efforts.