[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.

[John W]

[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.

[B-Chan]

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

[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