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Apollo 1
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Tragedy struck on the launch pad during a preflight test for Apollo 204, scheduled to be the first Apollo manned mission. It was supposed to have been launched on February 21, 1967, but Astronauts Virgil Grissom, Edward White, and Roger Chaffee lost their lives when a fire swept through the Command Module (CM) during a test run at 1:00 p.m., Friday, January 27, 1967. |
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| The first problem occurred when Gus Grissom entered into the spacecraft and hooked up to his oxygen supply from the spacecraft. An odd smell was noticed in the oxygen. A second serious problem arose in communications. At first, faulty communications seemed to exist solely between Command Pilot Grissom and the control room. The crew made adjustments. One of the crew, presumably Grissom, moved slightly. Four seconds later, an astronaut, probably Chaffee, announced almost casually over the intercom: "Fire, I smell fire." Two seconds later, Astronaut White's voice was more insistent: "Fire in the cockpit." Spacecraft technicians ran towards the sealed Apollo, but before they could reach it, the command module ruptured. Many feared that the fire might set off the launch escape system atop Apollo. After crews had opened the hatches the astronauts were dead. Fire had destroyed 70% of Grissom's spacesuit, 20% of White's and 15% of Chaffee's. Doctors treated 27 men for smoke inhalation. After removal of the bodies, NASA impounded everything at launch complex 34. On 3 February, NASA Administrator Webb set up a review board to investigate the matter thoroughly. The exhaustive investigation of the fire and extensive reworking of the CM's postponed any manned launch until NASA officials cleared the CM for manned flight. The missions of AS-201 and AS-202 with Apollo spacecraft aboard, unofficially known as Apollo 1 and Apollo 2 missions carried only the aerodynamic nose cone. The eventual launch of AS-204 became known as the Apollo 5 mission (no missions or flights were ever designated Apollo 2 and 3). | |
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The thorough investigation by the Apollo 204 Review Board of the Apollo accident determined that the test conditions at the time of the accident were "extremely hazardous." One theory is a faulty circuit along with the full oxygen atmosphere caused the fire. However, neither NASA nor the contractor prior to the accident recognized the test as being hazardous. Proper emergency equipment was not located in the "white room" surrounding the Apollo command module nor were emergency fire and medical rescue teams in attendance. The only explanation the committee offered is that NASA officials believed they had eliminated all sources of ignition, and since a fire requires an ignition source, combustible material, and oxygen, NASA believed that necessary and sufficient action had been taken to prevent a fire. |
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The Apollo 204 accident was a tragic event in the nation's space program. Consequently many changes have been made in the Apollo system design, operations, management, and procedures and NASA expects this will result in an improved spacecraft and booster system. The committee's review of the accident found nothing that would make the committee question this expectation. The total impact of the Apollo 204 accident on the Apollo program is not yet known. |
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Sources
NASA. Apollo 1 Events Summary. September 2000. Launius, Roger D. NASA Apollo Mission Apollo-1-- Cronology.
September 2000. Launius, Roger D. NASA Apollo Mission Apollo-1-- Summary. September
2000. NASA. Burnt CM. September 2000. |
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2000 Chris Goodman |
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