One of the most iconic and groundbreaking space exploration programs in history was the Apollo missions, led by NASA in the 1960s and 1970s. These missions aimed to land humans on the Moon and bring them back safely to Earth. Each Apollo flight consisted of a team of astronauts carefully selected and trained for the challenging journey.

The number of astronauts who manned each Apollo flight varied depending on the specific mission. The initial Apollo missions, known as the Apollo 1, 7, and 9, were primarily focused on testing the spacecraft and systems. Therefore, they did not involve sending astronauts to the Moon. Apollo 1, tragically, ended in a fatal fire during a ground test, resulting in the loss of all three astronauts onboard.

It was not until the Apollo 7 mission that astronauts were able to successfully orbit the Earth. The crew for this mission consisted of three astronauts: Walter Schirra, Donn Eisele, and Walter Cunningham. They spent approximately 11 days in space, conducting various tests and experiments to ensure the feasibility of future Moon missions.

As the Apollo program progressed, the number of astronauts increased for the Moon-bound missions. The Apollo 8 mission, which became the first manned spacecraft to orbit the Moon, had a crew of three astronauts: Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders. They achieved a major milestone by orbiting the Moon multiple times and capturing the iconic Earthrise photograph.

For the subsequent Apollo missions that involved lunar landings, the crew composition changed once again. The Apollo 11 mission, famously known for the first manned Moon landing, had a crew of three astronauts as well: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. Armstrong and Aldrin became the first and second humans to set foot on the lunar surface, while Collins orbited the Moon in the command module.

In total, there were six Apollo missions that successfully landed astronauts on the Moon. The crew sizes for these missions varied between two and three astronauts, with a total of twelve individuals having the opportunity to walk on the lunar surface.

Overall, the Apollo missions were a remarkable achievement in human exploration, and each flight played a crucial role in advancing our understanding of space and the Moon.

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