[Apollo 7] Space sunset over the Indian Ocean. Walter Cunningham, Walter Schirra,...

[Apollo 7] Space sunset over the Indian Ocean. Walter Cunningham, Walter Schirra, or Donn Eisele, 11–22 October 1968. Printed 1968. Vintage chromogenic print on fiber-based Kodak paper [NASA image AS7–8-1933]. 25.4×20.3 cm (10×8 in), numbered “AS7–3-1554” in bottom margin, with “A Kodak Paper” watermarks on the verso (NASA / North American Rockwell).

The photograph was taken from an altitude of 125 nautical miles showing the Earth horizon over the n-cloud-covered Indian Ocean at the terminator.

“It’s very difficult to do good photography from space... You have only 45 minutes of daylight, and the first and last portions are not all that useful for color matching. Because the spacecraft is drifting, you’re waiting there for the middle of a 45-minute period with one of the windows pointed close to the vertical instead of being pointed out into space.” Walter Cunningham (Schick and Van Haaften, p. 84)

From the mission transcript when the photograph was taken: 003:47:40 Public Affairs Officer (Mission Control): [...] The crew during this period as they move across the Indian Ocean will let us check the Flight Plan here. They’re coming in to a sunset - or their in the night - they are in darkness. [...] We should hear from them when they come into range of Carnarvon at 4 hours and 5 minutes into the mission. This is Apollo Control, Houston.

Condition Report:Minor softening to corners, very minor marks on glossy surface visible only in a raking light, otherwise excellent condition.

Category:Photos ▸ Vintage photographs