Meaning: The quote "He who commands an Apollo flight will not command a second one" is attributed to Wally Schirra, one of the original group of seven astronauts selected by NASA for Project Mercury, the United States' first human spaceflight program. The quote reflects the reality of the Apollo program, which was the third human spaceflight program carried out by NASA and was responsible for landing the first humans on the moon.

Wally Schirra, a highly experienced astronaut, was the only astronaut to fly in all three of NASA's pioneering space programs: Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo. He commanded the Apollo 7 mission, which was the first crewed mission in the Apollo program and the first to include a live TV broadcast from space. Schirra's quote is a testament to the intense competition and limited opportunities for command within the Apollo program.

The Apollo program was a significant leap forward in the space race and represented the culmination of President John F. Kennedy's 1961 challenge to land a man on the moon and return him safely to Earth before the end of the decade. The program involved a series of crewed missions aimed at achieving this goal and was characterized by a high level of risk and a deep sense of national pride.

The quote can be interpreted in several ways. On one level, it reflects the reality of the Apollo program, where only a select few astronauts had the opportunity to command a mission. The program involved a total of 17 missions, with only 12 astronauts walking on the moon. The competition for command positions was intense, and the quote suggests that once an astronaut had the opportunity to command an Apollo flight, it was unlikely that they would have the chance to do so again.

Furthermore, the quote also speaks to the unique nature of the Apollo program. Unlike the earlier Mercury and Gemini programs, which involved multiple missions with the same objectives, the Apollo program was focused on a single goal: landing humans on the moon. Once this goal was achieved, the program effectively came to an end, and subsequent missions focused on scientific exploration rather than the initial moon landing objective.

Wally Schirra's own experience as an astronaut adds depth to the quote. As one of the original Mercury Seven, he was part of the first group of astronauts selected by NASA and played a crucial role in shaping the early days of the space program. His participation in all three of NASA's human spaceflight programs gives him a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities faced by astronauts during this pivotal era of space exploration.

In conclusion, Wally Schirra's quote "He who commands an Apollo flight will not command a second one" reflects the competitive and unique nature of the Apollo program, as well as the broader context of the space race and the achievements of NASA's early astronauts. It serves as a reminder of the intense competition and limited opportunities for command within the Apollo program and highlights the significant role played by individuals such as Schirra in shaping the course of human space exploration.