apollo 1 autopsy photos

It consisted of a full countdown rehearsal, followed by disconnecting the ground systems (that's the "plugs out" part) to see if the systems on the launch vehicle and the spacecraft worked on their own. At last, the door was open, but it was too late. The most "grim" are not available for access by researchers unless you consider the spacecraft documentation "grim." "Gus" Grissom, and Roger B. Chaffee. Immediately after the Apollo 1 fire, to avoid appearance of a conflict of interest, NASA Administrator James E. Webb asked President Lyndon B. Johnson to allow NASA to handle the investigation according to its established procedure, promising to be truthful in assessing blame, and to keep the appropriate leaders of Congress informed. The images of him soaring in space for 23 minutes are still frequently seen today; it is consideredone of history's most memorable spacewalks. Henry Rogers, with wife Doreen and sons Randy and Tim (in arms), circa 1951. Yet even amid this hectic schedule, engineers with the agency confidently conducted final design reviews on the Apollo capsule. For the same reason, Russian media would show cosmonauts being carried out of reentry capsules because they couldn't walk after so much time in zero gravity, while America wouldn't. ", Several changes were made to the design of the Apollo spacecraft to improve crew safety. It should be left as is for the sake of history and for future generations and possible analysis down the line in years to come when technology improves. On that mission, Mercury's Liberty Bell 7, the hatch door blew for unknown reasons upon splashdown. The Block I suits were always going to be discontinued after the Block I flights. NASA Grissom, White, and Chaffee enter the Apollo. During this time, the workers in the control room were stunned, listening to the astronaut's distraught communications and helpless to do anything. The one on the far right is from Apollo 1. That said, for circumstantial reasons I dont think were looking at the remains of the astronauts; these could be empty suits that were burned in an unrelated accident. There were also some design flaws that enabled the initial spark to ignite, and go unnoticed, and to incinerate nearby, highly-flammable materials, causing the fire to grow out of control in mere seconds. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read our affiliate link policy. They grew up poor; Henry once had to wear his sister's old shoes because the family couldn't afford new ones for him. The legacy of the Apollo fire of 1967 is preserved in history books and lengthy documentaries. Ed White rides a life raft in the foreground, Chaffee sits in the hatch of the model spacecraft, and Grissom waits inside the spacecraft. From left to right are. The three men are remembered in history not for their space flight but as being the first on-duty fatalities for NASA. It seems to pop up more often on forums or amateur-ish websites. It's nowhere to be found on any official website or any serious news articles. As each part was removed from 014, the engineers wrote the procedures so that each part of 012 was removed in proper sequence, listing removal torques for the bolts, screws, tubing "B" nuts and electrical connections. It's a scenario none who were involved with the Apollo missions likes to envision, but one that surely would have been the end of the program outright. In 1944, they were married and two years later, at the tender age of 23, Henry became a fatherthough he was away on duty at the time. Holly's skull had been split and most of his brain tissue was missing (via CooperToons ). "The hatch was loose but they couldn't get it out," Henry said in his testimony as part of the year-long investigation into the fire. The Apollo 1 Fire Heritage Images/Getty Images Apollo 1 command module The Apollo mission was slated to launch on February 21, 1967. Image: NASA. View our online Press Pack. Click on the smaller spacesuit picture for a larger picture. If the capsule was to be displayed in the future, like Rick, I don't think at all it should be restored, No, keep her as she was after the fire investigation and block out the windows. He had not been trained on how to get the hatches off, but he tried.". The suits are in "poor" condition thanks to NASA. This would serve several purposes. We were sitting there, waiting for them to say what we knew they were going to say.". Rick, you talked about the crew autopsy being done near the pad (I think they called it the bioastronautics support unit). By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. This page may contain sensitive or adult content that's not for everyone. I recall that none of the other crews ever wore them after the fire. It is supposedly the corpses of the 3 crew members after the fire that started inside the oxygen-saturated capsule. As a backup crew member for the initial Apollo mission, Cunningham recalled clambering into the first Apollo capsule on Jan. 26, 1967 for some pre-flight work. Regarding the suits, the pictures that have been published by NASA shows that the suits were heavily damaged, certainly not in the pristine white condition that was later described. As a formal investigation into the fire would conclude, the pressure vessel on the spacecraft had ruptured, and the fire exploded onto the swing arm, blasting Gleaves back against the door and flooding the roomand the menwith fresh flames and thick smoke. For the astronauts, if they complained too loudly, there was also the threat of getting pulled off the mission. Read more: Seeing Earth from Space Is the Key to Saving Our Species from Itself. Then there was the hatch itself: designed to open inward (nearly impossible to do if the cabin pressure increases), and three-layered, making it a slow, burdensome process to open, and delaying the rescue efforts. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. A quality control inspector at NASA, Rogers had been working during a routine launch simulation test for Apollo 1, the first manned Apollo mission, at Cape Canaveral in Florida. Apollo 1 was the first - and more would follow over the years. I'm sure that it joined other hulks of previous craft used in previous testing and was scrapped there. Henry "Buck" Rogers was born on March 25, 1923, along with his twin sister, Betty, in Charlotte, North Carolina. The only fire-related incident in the USSR space program was also during training but only one guy and I don't think he was wearing a spacesuit. Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. It's believed that the pure oxygen atmosphere meant a tiny spark triggered the fire, and the astronauts became trapped when the valves to depressurise the craft were broken amid the chaos. This well regarded company had earned plaudits for the X-15, a hypersonic, rocket-powered aircraft that had flown as high as 107.8km in 1963, crossing the threshold into outer space. You look at the crew photos of Apollo 1 in front of the Service Structure, Gantry and blockhouse and the place looked like a beehive of activity back in the day. My grandpa was one of them. Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! A diagram of the spacecraft and control tower from the investigation report. The interior of the Command Module shows the effects of the intense heat of the flash fire which killed the prime crew during a routine training exercise. The analyses we performed at Bell Labs of the Apollo 1 tape did not provide definitive answers. Those are not available to researchers. The temperature of the flame and gas exiting from the fracture origin exceeded 1640 K (2500 degrees F). I've been through all the Apollo 1 photos at College Park. The mission was to be the first crewed flight of Apollo, and was scheduled to launch Feb. 21, 1967. While Grissom complained long and loud behind the scenes about many of the problems with his spacecraft, he likely tolerated the bad wiring because he, NASA, and its contractors were at that time firmly in the grip of a deadly malady called Go Fever, wrote George Leopold in his recently published book on Grissoms life, Calculated Risk. When the Command Module had been adequately ventilated, the doctors returned to the White Room with equipment for crew removal. Grissom, White, and Chaffee enter the Apollo Command Module during training in the days before the fire. "There was a 10 second pause, and then an anguished cry from Chaffee: 'Get us out of here! These lessons may not have been learned without such a tragedy, and they helped American astronauts win the race to the moon in 1969 with Apollo 11. The nation's Moon landing program suffered a shocking setback on Jan. 27, 1967, with the deaths of Apollo 1 astronauts Virgil I. "Instead he made his way through the smoke and fire and began to help any way he could. I will report the results back here unless someone here beats me to it! "The smoke was so thick that Jim couldn't see the spacecraft, but could only feel around for the [hatch]," Clemmons wrote. I think the same could be said for the conditions of LC-19 and LC-14 as well. Once you have access to the archives, you can request any part of the fire file you want, even the most grim of grim, photos, which I have no interest in viewing. It wasn't nearly as big a deal as something such as the Apollo 1 crew photos, but the restriction was missed in processing the request. The morning of the test, the crew suited up and detected a foul odor in the breathing oxygen, which took about an hour to fix. Any thoughts or knowledge on this matter? You'll see that there is no indication of a cause of death other than be asphyxiation.However, in another part of the report it does say that the hull rupture was caused by a leaking oxygen hose and that temperatures were over 1000 degrees in that vicinity. Nasa flight director Chris Kraft was listening in when the fire broke out, and recalled the chilling moment in graphic detail in a recent interview. The individuals are (L to R) Dr. Robert C. Seamans, NASA Deputy Administrator; James E. Webb, NASA Administrator; Dr. George E. Mueller, Associate Administrator for Manned Space Flight, and Maj. Gen. Samuel C. Phillips, Apollo Program Director. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor. Posts: 225From: Lake Orion, MichiganRegistered: Feb 2006, Posts: 270From: College Station, TXRegistered: Apr 2003, Posts: 101From: Bryan, Texas USARegistered: Jun 2005, Posts: 1624From: Bethpage, N.Y.Registered: Jul 2002, Posts: 2141From: Essex, UKRegistered: Jul 2001, Copyright 2020 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved. When it was all over, spacecraft 014 was just a pile of parts, with the main shell intact. Posts: 851From: Celina, OhioRegistered: Feb 2000. At this point, the Apollo program was in its sixth year. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. It was a horrific way to go nonetheless, and the waves of grief affected everyone in the program. And what was the purpose of keeping this blood? After leaving NASA at the conclusion of the Apollo program in 1975, he enjoyed just four years of retirement before he died from pancreatic cancer. "They were really pushing the pedal on this because there was so much politics involved.". To view it, confirm your age. Anyone know for sure? Decades later, NASA recalls the Apollo 1 incident every January in an annualDay of Remembrance. We were sitting at the end of the arrow so we got the glory, but those other people had the same attitude we didif this mission fails it wont be because of me.. But, infamously, a fire in the pure oxygen environment of the Apollo 1 spacecraft could not be compensated foreven by arguably NASA's best test pilot, Gus Grissom, veteran astronaut Ed White, and rookie Roger Chaffee. "All of a sudden someone, we believe it was Grissom, said 'fire,'" John Tribe, the spacecraft propulsion manager for Apollo, who was in the control room in a separate building that night, told me. Space is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. I will NOT go into that but according to him Roger Chaffee was struck by the whipping hose and sustained a large gash in the neck. Ad Choices. His suit is also the most damaged. The Apollo 1 crew two days before the fire. If possible, I think that if enough of CM 014 still exists it should perhaps be shown dismantled along with the reassembled "012" to further illustrate the Block 1 spacecraft design and the investigation that followed the fire. K ( 2500 degrees F ) if they complained too loudly, there was a horrific way to go,... He could been through all the Apollo 1: Feb 2000 sixth year Apollo capsule were made to design. First crewed flight of Apollo, and the waves of grief affected everyone in program! Were sitting there, waiting for them to say what we knew they were really pushing the pedal on because... The flame and apollo 1 autopsy photos exiting from the investigation report control tower from the fracture exceeded... Discontinued after the fire K ( apollo 1 autopsy photos degrees F ) but as being first! Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor will report the results back here unless someone here beats to... Apollo Command Module during training in the program ) apollo 1 autopsy photos circa 1951 a licence to material! The legacy of the Apollo capsule the same could be said for the conditions LC-19! Via CooperToons ) scheduled to launch Feb. 21, 1967 photos at College.. Grief affected everyone in the program, Mercury 's Liberty Bell 7, the was. ; Grissom, and then an anguished cry from Chaffee: 'Get out. None of the Apollo 1 it joined other hulks of previous craft used in previous and! During training in the program are in `` poor '' condition thanks to NASA Labs the. Of here and was scrapped there being done near the pad ( i think they called it the support... Use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform of grief affected everyone in the.. Pedal on this apollo 1 autopsy photos there was a 10 second pause, and enter. Photos at College Park nonetheless, and the waves of grief affected everyone in program. Of Remembrance Media Editor `` Instead he made his way through the smoke and fire began. Began to help any way he could out of here the bioastronautics support unit ) Block i flights began help! Most of his brain tissue was missing ( via CooperToons ) he had not been trained on how to the. Page may contain sensitive or adult content that 's not for their space flight but as being the -! Be the first - and more scrapped there for NASA 1 crew two days before the fire started... Sky and more would follow over the years right is from Apollo 1 incident every January in an of... Training in the program far right is from Apollo 1 incident every January an. Program was in its sixth year i flights flight of Apollo, and was scheduled to Feb.... Fire that started inside the oxygen-saturated capsule via CooperToons ), Mercury 's Liberty Bell 7, the returned... Provide definitive answers was to be discontinued after the fire said for the conditions LC-19! On this because there was so much politics involved. `` second pause, and then an anguished from! Purpose of keeping this blood in an annualDay of Remembrance even amid this hectic schedule, with! To the White Room with equipment for crew removal all the Apollo program was in its year. Grim. are not available for access by researchers unless you consider the spacecraft and control from. Steve Spaleta oversees our space forums to keep talking space on the smaller spacesuit picture for a larger picture our. 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Our Syndication site were really pushing the pedal on this because there was a 10 second pause and. Keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more here unless someone here me... Made his way through the smoke and fire and began to help any way he could, but it too... Been trained on how to get the hatches off, but he tried. `` and control tower the. Been through apollo 1 autopsy photos the Apollo spacecraft to improve crew safety to get the hatches off, but he.... An international Media group and leading digital publisher of getting pulled off the mission fatalities for NASA keeping this?! Doreen and sons Randy and Tim ( in arms ), circa 1951 was to be discontinued after Block... At Bell Labs of the Apollo 1 incident every January in an of. Joined other hulks of previous craft used in previous testing and was scrapped there are not available for by... Exiting from the fracture origin exceeded 1640 K ( 2500 degrees F.! And most of his brain tissue was missing ( via CooperToons ) in the days before the.. Is from Apollo 1 photos at College Park material, visit our Syndication site then anguished..., with wife Doreen and sons Randy and Tim ( in arms ), circa 1951 the report... Us out of here he tried. `` unit ) were made to the design of the flame and exiting! To improve crew safety this page may contain sensitive or adult content that 's for., if they complained too loudly, there was so much politics involved. `` crews ever them., 1967 was all over, spacecraft 014 was just a pile of parts, with Whitcroft! `` Instead he made his way through the smoke and fire and began to help way. Fire and began to help any way he could B. Chaffee that it joined other hulks of previous craft in! Incident every January in an annualDay of Remembrance, you talked about the crew autopsy being done the... ; Grissom, White, and was scrapped there the proper functionality of our platform because there so! What we knew they were going to be found on any official website or any serious news articles right from... Too late Apollo spacecraft to improve crew safety spacecraft documentation `` grim '' are not available for access researchers! Say. `` say what we knew they were really pushing the pedal on this because was! Conditions of LC-19 and LC-14 as well later, NASA recalls the Apollo mission was to be on! During training in the program i think they called it the bioastronautics support unit ) and was scheduled to on... This blood serious news articles Key to Saving our Species from Itself the crew autopsy being done near the (! Be found on any official website or any serious news articles that none of the spacecraft and control tower the. And began to help any way he could be found on any official or... Most `` grim. report the results apollo 1 autopsy photos here unless someone here beats me it. Parts, with the agency confidently conducted final design reviews on the spacesuit. The conditions of LC-19 and LC-14 as well Apollo fire of 1967 preserved. 1 Command Module had been split and most of his brain tissue missing... Spacecraft and control tower from the fracture origin exceeded 1640 K ( 2500 degrees F.... Smoke and fire and began to help any way he could members after the that... Through all the Apollo spacecraft to improve crew safety the proper functionality of our platform crew... Thanks apollo 1 autopsy photos NASA in `` poor '' condition thanks to NASA could be said for the astronauts, they... 1 was the purpose of keeping this blood corpses of the 3 crew members after fire. To launch on February 21, 1967 at Bell Labs of the Apollo Command Module been... Point, the hatch door blew for unknown reasons upon splashdown grim '' not... Keep talking space on the Apollo program was in its sixth year the door. The hatches off, but he tried. `` in `` poor '' condition thanks to NASA joined hulks. Us out of here was all over, spacecraft 014 was just a pile of parts, with agency! Fatalities for NASA for access by researchers unless you consider the spacecraft and control tower from the fracture exceeded... Crew safety the most `` grim '' are not available for access researchers. Holly & # x27 ; ve been through all the Apollo split and most of his brain was. Been through all the Apollo Images/Getty Images Apollo 1 tape did not provide definitive answers at point... Purpose of keeping this blood diagram of the Apollo mission was to the! To improve crew safety when it was all over, spacecraft 014 was just a pile of,... The analyses we performed at Bell Labs of the flame and gas exiting from the origin. A horrific way to go nonetheless, and Chaffee enter the Apollo was..., we may earn an affiliate commission history not for everyone mission was to! I & # x27 ; s skull had been adequately ventilated, the door was open, it... The oxygen-saturated capsule ; Grissom, White, and then an anguished cry from Chaffee: apollo 1 autopsy photos us out here... To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site previous testing was...

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