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1967: Three astronauts die in Apollo 1 tragedy [RIP 47 years ago today]
BBC ^ | January 27th, 1967 | Various staff

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 ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: apollo; chaffee; grissom; white
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To: laplata

You may be right, but like I said my memories are vague. I could be mistaken.


21 posted on 01/27/2014 8:54:13 AM PST by virgil
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To: Mr. K
The thinking was that if you are going to make the capsule atmosphere 80% nitrogen like Earth's, then you are adding a lot of weight for something that is completely unnecessary. Except that yeah, it was only a good idea on paper, and nitrogen's inherent ability to prevent fires starting was a pretty damn useful thing.

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.

22 posted on 01/27/2014 8:55:03 AM PST by Hegewisch Dupa
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To: writer33
Lt Col Grissom (c), of Astronaut Group 1, he was the first US astronaut to fly into space twice. This was to have been his 3rd time to light the candle.

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...


23 posted on 01/27/2014 8:56:22 AM PST by Ready4Freddy
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To: Ready4Freddy

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.


24 posted on 01/27/2014 8:56:39 AM PST by equaviator (There's nothing like the universe to bring you down to earth.)
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To: Ready4Freddy

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


25 posted on 01/27/2014 8:59:18 AM PST by ralph rotten
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To: laplata; virgil
Yes, it was absolutely on a rocket.

This was a full dress rehearsal.

26 posted on 01/27/2014 9:00:05 AM PST by Ready4Freddy
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To: virgil

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.


27 posted on 01/27/2014 9:00:41 AM PST by Nextrush (AFFORDABLE CARE ACT=HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY BAILOUT ACT)
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To: safeasthebanks

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.


28 posted on 01/27/2014 9:00:46 AM PST by tanknetter
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To: dfwgator; mickie; pax_et_bonum; Maine Mariner
Thank you for your poignant, heartbreaking but beautiful tribute to our three heroes. God bless their memory forever.

Leni

29 posted on 01/27/2014 9:00:58 AM PST by MinuteGal
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To: Ready4Freddy
Remember the date well. I was in the Marine Corps on a training exercise in Vieques PR. Heard the news on a transistor radio, informed some of my buddies of the tragic news and also informed the Gunnery sergeant in charge of our section. He had tears in his eyes when he heard the news. Up to that point I didn't have any feelings one way or the other where “Gunny” was concerned ... after his display of emotion my respect for him increased significantly.
30 posted on 01/27/2014 9:04:32 AM PST by BluH2o
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To: Ready4Freddy
Good men. Very sad day.

May they rest in peace.

5.56mm

31 posted on 01/27/2014 9:06:36 AM PST by M Kehoe
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To: Ready4Freddy

From “Yes we can” to can’t.


32 posted on 01/27/2014 9:07:22 AM PST by onedoug
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To: Ready4Freddy

Life was not kind to Virgil “Gus” Grissom. R.I.P.


33 posted on 01/27/2014 9:08:17 AM PST by montag813
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To: safeasthebanks

“From the Earth to the Moon” was excellent, as was Discovery Channel’s “When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions”


34 posted on 01/27/2014 9:08:45 AM PST by Ready4Freddy
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To: Ready4Freddy

A very sad event...R.I.P. men.


35 posted on 01/27/2014 9:10:16 AM PST by Minutemen ("It's a Religion of Peace")
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To: Timber Rattler

Damn! What a way to die.

At least the Apollo 1 Crew went fast.


36 posted on 01/27/2014 9:11:20 AM PST by mabarker1 (Please, Somebody Impeach the kenyan!!!!)
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To: Hegewisch Dupa

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.


37 posted on 01/27/2014 9:15:50 AM PST by IronJack
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To: BluH2o
Remember the date well. I was in the Marine Corps on a training exercise in Vieques PR.
I remember it well too. Was home on leave post ITR, on my way to arty school, then VN.
Later, I got to Viegues via BLT 2/6. "Looooved" Garcia.
Semper Fi ...
38 posted on 01/27/2014 9:22:03 AM PST by oh8eleven (RVN '67-'68)
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To: Ready4Freddy; virgil

Yes, it was absolutely on a rocket.
This was a full dress rehearsal.


I stand corrected. Thanks.


39 posted on 01/27/2014 9:22:12 AM PST by laplata (Liberals don't get it .... their minds are diseased.)
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To: Tigerized

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.


40 posted on 01/27/2014 9:26:11 AM PST by greene66
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