Surveyor 7, the final spacecraft of NASA's Surveyor program, was launched from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 36A aboard an Atlas-Centaur rocket. It successfully lifted off at 11:15 PM UTC and was aimed at the Moon, intended to conduct scientific analysis of its surface and gather data vital for the impending Apollo manned lunar missions. The Surveyor program was a series of robotic landers that began in 1966 to explore the lunar surface and provide critical information regarding its physical and geological characteristics. Surveyor 7's mission was particularly focused on the area near the Fra Mauro highlands, a site chosen for its potential as a future Apollo landing zone.

During its mission, Surveyor 7 transmitted thousands of images back to Earth, providing scientists with unprecedented views of the lunar surface, including detailed imagery of lunar soil and terrain. These images were essential for assessing the safety of future Apollo landings. The spacecraft carried both a television camera and soil analysis instruments, which facilitated a better understanding of the Moon's surface properties. As Surveyor 7 concluded its mission, it set records for the number of pictures taken, becoming a critical asset in NASA's preparations for subsequent human lunar exploration.

The success of Surveyor 7 and its predecessors demonstrated the viability of soft landings on the Moon and significantly contributed to the technological advancements required for future Apollo missions. The data collected by Surveyor 7 played a vital role in reducing the risks associated with landing human astronauts on the lunar surface, thus paving the way for the successful Apollo 11 mission, where Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the Moon.