Monday, May 4, 2009

Apollo 1 Tragedy (1967)



What do you think? This incident certainly points out just how dangerous the job of an astronaut can be. For those of you who read or are reading The Right Stuff, feel free to add your remarks.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think that it is very sad that 2 space veterens and 1 rookie that were going to start what i think are the most important series of launches into space had to be blown up to realize something was wrong about the craft.


*TSA*

Anonymous said...

How was the fire started and wasnt there supposed to be a person looking over the rocket to make sure nothing went wrong?


Cole C.

Anonymous said...

I think that it is very sad that a technical malfunction caused the death of these be\rave men.
-MM3

Anonymous said...

I dont see why they would risk putting the lives of the astronauts on the line even in a simulator? Wouldn't they make sure everything is running perfectly before they put them in the rocket especially when it's not even the actual launch itself.
- George C

Anonymous said...

What ended up causing the fire?

LB

Mr. Brown said...

CC,
According to NASA's website, the following were identified as "conditions that led to the disaster":

"1.A sealed cabin, pressurized with an oxygen atmosphere.

2.An extensive distribution of combustible materials in the cabin.

3.Vulnerable wiring carrying spacecraft power.

4.Vulnerable plumbing carrying a combustible and corrosive coolant.

5.Inadequate provisions for the crew to escape.

6.Inadequate provisions for rescue or medical assistance."
(more at http://history.nasa.gov/SP-4029/Apollo_01a_Summary.htm)

Mr. Brown said...

The response I just posted also is to LB's question. GC, I think this was just a part of the process. Any test is inherently risky.

Anonymous said...

I think it was sad that the astronauts died in training. They weren't doing the dangerous part of the job, lifting off. It was a bad way to start the Apollo program, but it paved the way for future successes down the road.

PRM3

Anonymous said...

Do you know how high in numbers the apollo series got.
Berkeley F.

Anonymous said...

This is ironic because he had suffered from a malfunction of a blown hatch blowing too early. Now he wanted to secure the hatches more so now he died because of it. This is a really sad consequence.



3rd CH

Anonymous said...

I agree with cole c. Shouldn't there be people who check for this kind of stuff on the rocket. It is very sad they died and that they could have been the first people on the moon also. I think it is a shame they died, but I am glad that we haven't had many mor of these disasters.


PP3