Walter Cunningham was a writer and entrepreneur as well as an astronaut, fighter pilot, physicist, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist.
He was the last surviving astronaut to survive NASA’s first crewed space mission. As part of the Apollo 7 mission, which lasted 11 days and covered the Earth from orbit, he was one of three astronauts aboard that mission, which paved the way for the Apollo moon landing the following year.
Walter Cunningham, a member of Apollo 1’s crew, dies at the age of 90.
Walter Cunningham’s death was acknowledged by NASA in a statement, but the reason for his death was left out. Cunningham’s wife, Dot Cunningham, and the agency’s spokespeople did not immediately reply to inquiries on Walter’s death, who was the final astronaut to survive the first successful crewed space flight of NASA’s Apollo program.
In a statement released by NASA, the Cunningham family said, “We would want to convey our tremendous pleasure in the life that he lived, and our heartfelt thanks for the man that he was – a patriot, an explorer, pilot, astronaut, husband, brother, and father.”
Another great hero has left the earth, and we shall miss him terribly. He was a member of the United States Marine Corps Reserve from 1956 to 1975, leaving at the rank of colonel. One of the third batches of astronauts chosen by NASA was Cunningham.
During his three years at RAND Corporation prior to being selected by NASA, he finished all requirements for a Doctor of Philosophy degree in physics at UCLA, with the exception of the dissertation. His Wikipedia article states that he passed away as a consequence of complications after a fall.
Where and when was Walter Cunningham Born?
Walter Cunningham was born Ronnie Walter Cunningham on March 16, 1932, in Creston, Iowa, USA. He was 90 years old.
He was born to Walter W. Cunningham who is his father. He also has a sister named Cathy Cunningham.
Early Life and Career
Walter Cunningham was a former astronaut and United States Navy officer. He was born on March 16, 1932, in Creston, Iowa. Cunningham received a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1955 and a Master of Science degree in physics from the same institution in 1956.
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In 1956, Cunningham joined the United States Navy and became a naval aviator. He served in a variety of roles, including as a test pilot and as an instructor at the Naval Aviation Training Command. In 1963, Cunningham was selected to participate in the United States Air Force’s Manned Orbiting Laboratory program, which was later canceled.
On Apollo 7 Mission
In 1967, Cunningham was chosen to be an astronaut as part of the Apollo program. He served as the lunar module pilot on the Apollo 7 mission, which was the first manned mission of the Apollo program and the first manned spacecraft to be launched by the Saturn IB rocket.
The mission was launched on October 11, 1968, and lasted for just over 11 days. Cunningham and his crewmates, Wally Schirra and Donn Eisele, performed several important tasks during the mission, including testing the spacecraft’s systems and performing live television broadcasts from orbit.
After the Apollo 7 mission, Cunningham left NASA and returned to the Navy. He retired from the Navy in 1975 with the rank of Captain. In the years following his retirement, Cunningham worked in the private sector and became involved in various charitable and educational endeavors. He also wrote several books about his experiences as an astronaut, including “The All-American Boys,” which was published in 1977.
In addition to his work as an astronaut and naval officer, Cunningham was also an accomplished musician. He played the piano and the organ, and was a member of the Navy Band during his time in the service.
Walter Cunningham’s Wife and Children
Walter Cunningham was a married man and he was married to Lo Ella Irby with who he shared two children. They are Brian and Kimberly.
