Apollo 1

A word from our sponsor:

Printer-friendly version

Author: 

Tomorrow, Jan. 27, is the 50th anniversary of the launch pad fire that killed the Apollo 1 crew, Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee. What was supposed to be a routine systems test became a funeral pyre when a flash fire fueled by the pure oxygen inside the Apollo roared through the capsule interior. Subsequent investigations revealed significant design flaws and faulty procedures. This resulted in a complete redesign of the Apollo capsule and revamped rules and regulations.

So, take time Friday at 6:31 PM (23:31 UTC) to pause and remember these three brave men. Overshadowed by the later shuttle accidents they do not get the recognition they so richly deserve and have earned.

Comments

Lives lost!

MadTech01's picture

In the quest of technological advancement and exploring new and not fully known territory there are always casualties, and it is those casualties that make us take pause and look for what went wrong and needs to change so it does not happen again.

Those men were heroes, no question in my mind. I still find it amazing that NASA at the time was going to not give them the full honor the accident deserved because it was a test and not a full launch. But people spoke out and for a time the Tragedy of Apollo 1 had meaning and made people check things twice even a third time when they were doing things to make sure it was done right. We kept going forward but used caution so not to have another tragedy again. It makes me just shake my head that so many repeat those mistakes and refuse to learn from the sacrifice those men made. I am not going to name specifics we all know of a few. But hopefully people will wake up and things both move forward and become safer in the pursuit of the Future.

"Cortana is watching you!"