Last surviving Apollo 7 astronaut dies at 90
(NBC) - Walter Cunningham, the last surviving Apollo 7 astronaut, has died.
Cunningham, and his two crewmates, orbited the Earth for 11 days during the 1968 mission. Thus, paving the way for NASA's eventual lunar landing with Apollo 11.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson released a statement confirming Cunningham's death, saying in part, "Walt Cunningham was a fighter pilot, physicist, and an entrepreneur, but, above all, he was an explorer.
A spokesperson for Cunningham's family says he died "[of] complications [from] a fall, after a full and complete life."
Their statement went on to say, "The world has lost another true hero, and we will miss him dearly."
Cunningham was born March 16, 1932, in Creston, Iowa.
He later studied physics as UCLA and the Harvard Graduate School of Business.
Cunningham joined the Navy in 1951 and served on active duty with the U.S. Marine corps, retiring with the rank of Colonel, after flying 54 missions as a fighter pilot in Korea.
He would go on to accumulate more than 4,500 hours of flying time in 40 different aircraft, including more than 3,400 hours in jet aircraft, according to NASA.
Cunningham was selected as an astronaut in 1963 as part of NASA's third astronaut class.
