Cape Kennedy, Florida
They called it a “plugs out” test. Boring stuff. Just three guys sitting in a metal can, running through checklists at Launch Complex 34. Then everything became a nightmare in less than half a minute.
Here’s how tragedy struck this Florida launch pad and how to visit the memorial site at the Kennedy Space Center.
The Apollo 1 Mission Plan
Apollo 1 was set to be the first crewed flight in America’s Moon program. The mission would test the Apollo spacecraft in Earth orbit with launch planned for February 21, 1967.
Gus Grissom, one of the first seven American astronauts, led the crew. Ed White, who had walked in space during Gemini 4, joined as Senior Pilot.
Roger Chaffee completed the team as Pilot on his first spaceflight. The three men trained for months for this crucial first step toward the Moon.
The January 27 “Plugs-Out” Test
On January 27, 1967, the crew went to Launch Complex 34 for a “plugs-out” test. This checked if the spacecraft could run on its own power without ground connections.
Engineers thought the test was safe. The rocket had no fuel and all explosive devices were turned off. At 1:00 PM, the astronauts entered the spacecraft wearing their space suits.
Workers sealed the hatch and filled the cabin with pure oxygen at high pressure, following standard procedures.
Early Warning Signs
The Apollo program faced problems before the fire. Grissom hung a lemon on the simulator to show his frustration with the spacecraft’s flaws.
In August 1966, the crew formally complained about too many flammable materials inside the spacecraft. A safety check was planned for January 29, two days too late.
A fire had already occurred during an unmanned test in April 1966 in a pure oxygen environment. Officials dismissed this warning because it involved equipment not meant for flight.
The Fatal Fire
At 6:31 PM, a spark from damaged wires ignited materials under Grissom’s seat. The pure oxygen turned a small spark into a blaze within seconds.
“Fire in the cockpit!” Chaffee shouted through the radio. His transmission ended just 17 seconds later with sounds of pain. Flames raced through the cabin.
The fire caused pressure to build rapidly, cracking the spacecraft’s hull and releasing toxic gases that quickly killed the astronauts.
Rescue Attempts
Workers rushed to help but faced terrible obstacles. Thick smoke and extreme heat pushed back the first rescuers who reached the spacecraft.
The hatch design made escape nearly impossible. It opened inward and took at least 90 seconds to open in perfect conditions. The increased pressure from the fire sealed it shut.
After fighting through smoke and flames for five minutes, rescuers finally opened the hatch. By then, it was too late. The fire had killed all three men.
Cause of the Tragedy
The fire started with an electrical spark from wires under Grissom’s seat. These wires were likely damaged by an access door that had been opened and closed many times.
Three factors combined to create disaster: pure oxygen at high pressure made everything more flammable, materials like nylon and Velcro throughout the cabin provided fuel, and the inward-opening hatch trapped the crew inside.
The astronauts died from breathing toxic gases after their oxygen hoses burned through, not from the flames themselves.
The Investigation
NASA quickly formed an investigation board led by Floyd Thompson from Langley Research Center. Astronaut Frank Borman represented the astronaut corps on the team.
Investigators took apart the burned spacecraft piece by piece and spoke with everyone involved in the test. They also tested identical equipment to understand what went wrong.
The final report released on April 9, 1967, found many problems in design, engineering, and quality control rather than a single cause of the accident.
Major Changes to the Apollo Program
NASA completely redesigned the spacecraft hatch. The new hatch opened outward and could be unlatched in seconds with little effort, even against pressure.
Engineers changed the cabin air mixture for ground tests to 60% oxygen and 40% nitrogen to reduce fire risk. The spacecraft would still use pure oxygen in space but at much lower pressure.
Flammable materials were removed. Fire-resistant fiberglass cloth replaced nylon, aluminum pipes became stainless steel, and wire bundles gained protective metal coverings.
Safety Culture Revolution
The Apollo 1 fire changed how NASA approached safety forever. The agency created the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel in 1968 to provide outside oversight.
A new mindset that “failure is not an option” took hold, putting safety ahead of schedules and budgets. NASA created ways for workers to report safety concerns without fear of punishment.
The lessons from Apollo 1 became required learning for all astronauts and engineers. This approach to learning from mistakes continues in space programs today.
Launch Complex 34 Today
After the Apollo 1 fire, Launch Complex 34 hosted just one more mission. Apollo 7, the first successful crewed Apollo flight, lifted off from the pad on October 11, 1968.
Most of the complex was later torn down, leaving only the concrete launch pad, flame deflectors, and blockhouse. The site was left to stand as a monument.
Three granite benches installed in 2005 honor each astronaut. Memorial plaques on the structure include the Latin phrase “Ad astra per aspera”—”through hardship to the stars.”
Visiting Launch Complex 34
You can visit Launch Complex 34 through Kennedy Space Center’s “Cape Canaveral Early Space Tour.”
Tours depart from the Visitor Complex at 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM daily, located at Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island, FL 32953.
Tickets cost $25 per person in addition to main admission and must be purchased in advance.
Photography is permitted at the Apollo 1 memorial site.
Read More on WhenInYourState.com:
The post NASA’s Worst Nightmare from 1967 Is Now a Tour Stop at This Space Complex appeared first on When In Your State.