Posted on 01/27/2014 8:32:09 AM PST by Ready4Freddy
1967: Three astronauts die in Apollo 1 tragedy
Three American astronauts have died after fire swept through the Apollo spacecraft designed for a manned flight to the Moon during rehearsals at Cape Kennedy.
It is thought an electrical spark started in the area holding oxygen supplies and other support systems. The fire spread quickly in the oxygen-filled atmosphere of the capsule, killing the crew within seconds.
The space crew, flight commander Gus Grissom, Edward White and Roger Chaffee, were taking part in a test run for the launch of the first Apollo mission.
Navy Lieutenant Commander Chaffee, aged 31, had never flown in space before. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Grissom, 39, was the first American to make two flights. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel White, 35, made America's first space walk.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
You may be right, but like I said my memories are vague. I could be mistaken.
Another problem with the Apollo 1 fire is that when on Earth, the capsule pressure has to be much, much higher to prevent the capsule from collapsing under the pressure of Earth's atmosphere. So the oxygen concentration was far higher than it would have been in space.
Lt Col White (l), of Astronaut Group 2, he was the first American to perform an EVA, during Gemini 4. This was to have been his 2nd ride.
LCDR Chaffee, (r), of Astronaut Group 3. This was to have been his first ride into space.
Looks like they had Gus sitting on a dictionary or phone book...
This was the event that as a 9-year old, made me realize how risky space travel was even though they hadn’t been to the moon yet.
I was working with the Apollo 1 personal and guy that was in-charge of the capsule cover the in side of the capsule to protect it from any damage—WITH FOAM RUBBER -AND THEN ADD O2 - VERY STUPID — HE WAS STILL WORKING FOR NASA-—the foam rubber rubber burn temper was very low and any spark would set it off
This was a full dress rehearsal.
The NBC News “Special Report” had photos of the astronauts and talking heads as I remember. My attention span and interest in news programs on television was limited and I didn’t spend much more than 10-15 minutes watching it.
The capsule being covered in Velcro, which was highly flammable, played a role as well.
Iirc there was supposed to be an engineer in the capsule with them. Unsuited, in the void storage space behind the seats. He ended up staying outside, but was convinced that he could have snuffed out the spark (possibly with a portable fire extinguisher kept in the cabin) right away and avoided the tragedy.
Leni
May they rest in peace.
5.56mm
From “Yes we can” to can’t.
Life was not kind to Virgil “Gus” Grissom. R.I.P.
“From the Earth to the Moon” was excellent, as was Discovery Channel’s “When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions”
A very sad event...R.I.P. men.
Damn! What a way to die.
At least the Apollo 1 Crew went fast.
As I recall, another problem was that the hatch to the capsule opened inward, so the increased cabin pressure prevented it from opening. It was another design change learned the hard way.
Yes, it was absolutely on a rocket.
This was a full dress rehearsal.
I stand corrected. Thanks.
Wow, can you imagine how America, the media, the culture, would react if this happened today? The circus, the pundits, the “crisis,” the politicians, the self-doubt, the whole stultifying grinding-to-a-halt inaction?
We’re not the same nation we were. We as a people and a culture are not the same hearty, brave breed anymore.
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