An astronaut from the first crewed Apollo spaceflight shares his unique perspective on a remarkable era of exploration, including the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo programs, and the human side of spaceflight.

Watch the latest installment of our ongoing Thought Leader Series featuring Apollo 7 astronaut Walt Cunningham. Hear an Apollo astronaut lend insight into some of our nation’s most historic space programs.

Among Cunningham’s many accomplishments, he is most well-known for being NASA’s second civilian astronaut, serving as a fighter pilot with the rank of colonel in the US Marine Corps, authoring The All-American Boys, hosting Lift-off To Logic, a radio talk show and for his contributions as a physicist, lecturer, entrepreneur and venture capitalist. Cunningham is also being inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in Washington, D.C. Sept. 28.

Cunningham was commissioned into the Marine Corps in 1953 and served as a combat pilot on 54 missions in Korea through 1956. His background prepared him for the historic Apollo 7 mission that helped NASA gain the confidence to go to the Moon.

Cunningham was commissioned into the Marine Corps in 1953 and served as a combat pilot on 54 missions in Korea through 1956. His background prepared him for the historic Apollo 7 mission that helped NASA gain the confidence to go to the Moon.

On Oct. 11, 1968, Cunningham flew aboard the Apollo program’s first crewed mission to space, Apollo 7. He sat in the Lunar Module Pilot’s seat for the 11-day flight, spending 263 hours in space. Prior to his historic flight, he had been listed as the backup Lunar Module Pilot for the tragic Apollo 1 mission.

He went on to serve as the Chief of the Skylab branch of the Flight Crew Directorate at NASA Johnson Space Center and is now a successful businessman and author, serving as director for many public and private companies. Cunningham devotes time to speaking, both as a lecturer and radio talk show host, and we are excited to host him Oct. 5 for our latest Thought Leader Series presentation.

Scientist, veteran, astronaut, businessman, author, Walt has done it all. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear his unique perspective on some of our nation’s greatest space programs.

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