January 27, 2012
AS-204
45 years ago today, the US space program suffered the first fatalities of its history. Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee died during a routine training mission when their Apollo capsule caught fire. The conflagration was aided by a 100% oxygen atmosphere in the capsule. A single ignition source was unable to be found. A study did find, however, that the standard nylon astronaut pressure suit of the time could generate enough static electricity to create a spark just from regular movement in the capsule's flight seats.
Sadly, they would not be the last to die in mankind's quest for space.
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Grissom, White, Chaffee
Their mission was officially designated Apollo-Saturn 204, or AS-204, until April 24, 1967. At that time, NASA retired the name Apollo 1 in their honor.Sadly, they would not be the last to die in mankind's quest for space.
Posted by: Wonderduck at
09:47 PM
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Indeed they weren't. I knew Richard Scobee when I was a little kid. Don't remember much about him personally, but he took me to NASA once for a tour. I didn't have a lot of interest in the space program after Challenger.
Posted by: Avatar_exADV at January 28, 2012 12:53 AM (GJQTS)
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And Google chooses to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the "world's largest snowflake". *facepalm*
Posted by: Ed Hering at January 28, 2012 01:07 PM (4deSp)
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In their defense, if they commemorated every great tragedy their site would look pretty bleak.
Posted by: Pixy Misa at January 30, 2012 05:37 AM (PiXy!)
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