Walter Cunningham (1932 – 2023)

Apollo 7 astronaut, author

Walter Cunningham passed away on January 3, 2023 at the age of 90. He was the last-surviving crew member of Apollo 7 — the longest, most-ambitious, and most-successful first test flight of any new flying machine … ever.

Walter Cunningham was a retired Marine Corps fighter pilot with the rank of colonel and 4,500 hours pilot time. He worked as a scientist for the RAND Corporation prior to joining NASA. While with RAND, he worked on classified defense studies and problems of the earth’s magnetosphere.

He was a successful businessman, entrepreneur, venture capitalist, lecturer, author, and host of a radio talk show. He is a member of the Astronaut Hall of Fame. His writings and involvement with energy and the environment date back to 1970, when he was one of three founders of The Earth Awareness Foundation, an environmental concern organization. He is also author of The All American Boys, the human side of the space program.

Recipient of numerous national and international honors, including: NASA Distinguished Service Medal; NASA Exceptional Service Medal; AIAA Haley Astronautics Award; 1969 UCLA Professional Achievement Award; 1969 Special Trustees Award; Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Emmy); 1969 Medal of Valor, American Legion; 1975 Outstanding American Award, American Conservative Union; 1975 Listed in all major Who’s Whos.

He was a Fellow at the American Astronautical Society and American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and numerous other organizations. He was also a member (or former member) at: the Selection Committee for the 1984 Rolex Awards for Enterprise, Society of Experimental Test Pilots, National Association of Small Business Investment Companies, Association of Space Explorers, American Geophysical Union, Sigma Pi Sigma, Explorers Club, Chairman, Texas Aerospace Commission, Advisory Board, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Director, Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, Advisory Board, National Space Biomedical Research Institute and numerous other professional and civic organization.

His education included a B.S., with honors, in physics from the University of California at Los Angeles, an M.S., with distinction, from the Institute of Geophysics And Planetary Sciences, and completed work on a Doctorate in physics with exception of thesis. He also has an AMB from Harvard Business School.

Watch videos below about Walt Cunningham, including his several presentations at The Heartland Institute’s international conferences on climate change.

Walter Cunningham (1932 – 2023) Contributions

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