On this day in space! Oct. 11, 1968: Apollo 7 launches into space, NASA's 1st Apollo astronaut crew in orbit

Space history marks two significant milestones. On October 11, 1968, NASA launched Apollo 7, sending the first Apollo astronaut crew into orbit, consisting of Wally Schirra, Donn Eisele, and Walter Cunningham. Additionally, on October 12, 1964, the Soviet Union achieved a major breakthrough by launching the first multi-person cosmonaut crew into space. These missions represented critical advancements for both NASA and the Soviet Union in the exploration and navigation of the orbital space environment.