Fifty years ago today: the Apollo 1 launchpad fire
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.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
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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.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
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!