How about remembering Apollo ONE as well as 11 [Vanity]

Self ^ | 7/20/09 | Self

[SES1066]

In this time of VERY JUSTIFIABLE pride in Apollo 11, can we also spare a few moments to remember our Apollo Martyrs of Apollo 1. On January 27, 1969, in a test of the new Apollo Capsule, Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee died in a horrible fire. In the next year the Apollo Capsule was so redesigned and reworked that it can hardly be called the same machine.

[SES1066]

Without their sacrifice, we might have lost many more in space and perhaps, because of the horror, never even making it to the Moon. I do not take anything away from the bravery and dedication of the men and women before and after them, but to me, these brave men, by their sacrifice, enabled Neil Armstrong and 'Buzz' Aldrin's landing 2 and 1/2 years later with Mike Collins lonely vigil above.

[Tallguy]

Considering the NASA crew rotation as it was later developed, I think that the first men on the Moon probably would have been Gus Grissom & Ed White had there been no Apollo 1 fire. This assumes that NASA could have kept the mission templates on-track. I’m assuming a lot, I know.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

You meant 1967, not 1969.

[massgopguy]

Gus never could catch a break.

[John W]

[SES1066]

You meant 1967, not 1969.

Du-Oh - sound of head slap - anybody got an aspirin? Yep, thanks Sharp-eye!

[SES1066]

Another link between Apollo One and 11; Edward H White II was a West Point (USMA 1952) Classmate of Apollo 11 Command Module Pilot Michael Collins and followed (USMA 1951) Lunar Module Pilot, Edwin Eugene 'Buzz' Aldrin, Jr.

Only Apollo 15 (David Scott & Alfred Worden) equaled Apollo 11's record of having 2/3s of crew being USMA graduates. This disparity is not matched by the USNA and USAF schools as their population of space-heads greatly exceeds that of West Point and thus have much greater representation in NASA.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

NASA's official investigation summary

Apparently, the crew was wearing these nylon flights suits, which were wholly inadequate to protect them from the fire.

[longfellow]

You got that right, Death wanted him.

[B-Chan]

Because today is not the anniversary of the Apollo 1 tragedy.

[real saxophonist]

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/kopra-tl.html

[SES1066]

Because today is not the anniversary of the Apollo 1 tragedy.

So did you notice any commemoration 2.5 years ago? I certainly did not.

It is a sad fact that, with the notable exceptions, deaths and disasters are forgotten while triumphs live on. So at this time of well deserved glowing remembrance of Apollo 11, it does not seem too much to me to remind all of what helped make it possible. No one should forget the names of our fallen and this seemed to be a good time and place to remember these three.

Sorry if you feel otherwise.

[B-Chan]

I’m sure the news media mean no disrespect to the heroes of Apollo 1 by omitting any mention of their deaths; it’s just not the story. Today is also the 33rd anniversary of the landing of the unmanned Viking 1 probe on Mars, and that hasn’t been mentioned, either. The big story is the Apollo 11 anniversary.

[SES1066]

Kudos to West Point Grad (Class of 1985) Col. Timothy L. Kopra now at the International Space Station (ISS) from STS-127 where he will become flight engineer and science officer for ISS Expedition 19. On a personal note I am hoping he does not have a red jersey in his clothing allowance.

[dancusa]

I remember the news flash. I was 11 years old and watching "Time Tunnel" on ABC. I recognize the name of Gus Grissom and Ed White.

Public schools students in those days were very aware of the space program and who the Astronaut's were.

[SunkenCiv]

Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium
http://www.grmuseum.org/planetarium

[Steve Van Doorn]

MSM didn’t talk about it but it was here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1329724/posts

[SES1066]

Thanks for the link, I didn’t see it or else do not recall it from that time. Much appreciated.