Fifty years ago today: the Apollo 1 launchpad fireLink here.
Fifty years ago Friday, the first – but sadly not the last – fatal spaceflight accident struck NASA when a fire claimed the lives of Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Roger Chaffee, and Ed White during a training exercise at Launch Complex 34. The accident, a major setback for the struggling Apollo program, ushered in the first understanding of the “bad day” effects of schedule pressure for spaceflight and brought with it words and reminders that still echo today.
The article provides a very detailed and accurate look at the history and causes of the accident, as well as its consequences, which even today influence American space engineering.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Link here.
Fifty years ago Friday, the first – but sadly not the last – fatal spaceflight accident struck NASA when a fire claimed the lives of Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Roger Chaffee, and Ed White during a training exercise at Launch Complex 34. The accident, a major setback for the struggling Apollo program, ushered in the first understanding of the “bad day” effects of schedule pressure for spaceflight and brought with it words and reminders that still echo today.
The article provides a very detailed and accurate look at the history and causes of the accident, as well as its consequences, which even today influence American space engineering.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The print edition can be purchased at Amazon or from any other book seller. If you want an autographed copy the price is $60 for the hardback and $45 for the paperback, plus $8 shipping for each. Go here for purchasing details. The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
I’ll take this sad opportunity to mention– we have a very nice Planetarium dedicated to Chaffee, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_B._Chaffee_Planetarium
– professionally done intro history reel (great video)
Chaffee Planetarium Installation
https://youtu.be/4KCSgapb3is
(6:22)
The understanding of fire that was gained from the accident has had benefits well beyond the field of space travel.
I wish I could find the old Life magazine article that fascinated me when I was a kid in the 70’s and made me a fan of the space program. The article was on the benefits of the space program, and one of their focuses was this accident.
According to the article, in response to this accident NASA undertook what was the most thorough investigation of fire ever, which led to development of safe wiring used in many fields, paints that didn’t give off toxic fumes when burned, and many, many other products that have saved countless lives.
As devastating as the accident was, we didn’t let it stop us, and in fact used it to learn very valuable lessons that brought great benefit to mankind. I hope we still have this spirit.
Garry-
Good stuff. (it’s really been 50 years… feel “old” today.)
Google-books appears to have Life Magazine archived on-line, although it’s not quite the same as having them in hand.
-Last I knew ( jeez, 2-decades ago)— you could get (random dates) them for $5-10 a copy. “historic” issues priced accordingly higher.
Garry wrote: “As devastating as the accident was, we didn’t let it stop us, and in fact used it to learn very valuable lessons that brought great benefit to mankind. I hope we still have this spirit.”
I am reminded of Bill Whittle’s acknowledgement of The Deal that we have with reality:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXbdJ3kyVyU (7 minutes)
(Tomorrow is another sad anniversary.)
Thanks, Edward; great video!