‘Got a fire in the cockpit!’: The Apollo 1 tragedy that killed three astronauts

Three astronauts were sealed inside a spacecraft preparing for a simulated liftoff to practice what would happen for real less than a month later. The three men are remembered in history not for their space flight but as being the first on-duty fatalities for NASA.

It was 6:31 p.m. on Jan. 27, 1967, when a fire started in Apollo 1 killing Grissom, 40, one of the seven original Mercury astronauts; White, 36, the first American to walk in space; and Chaffee, 31, a rookie awaiting his first flight in space.

The simulation, according to newspaper reports at the time, had started in the morning on Jan. 27 at Cape Kennedy. The astronauts entered the spacecraft at 1 p.m. The hatch was closed at 2:50 p.m. At 6:31 p.m. one of the astronauts said, “… Got a fire in the cockpit,” according to the report of the review board.

“A split second later, fire ‘that originated from inside the cabin’ penetrated to the outside of the spacecraft and surrounded the moonship in an instant.

Emergency crews had the Apollo doors opened in 5 minutes but were confronted with intense heat and dense smoke. The three astronauts “apparently died instantly.”

[timmy]

That real life audio clip capturing them in the midst of that fire is so sad and frightening. 😢

[dmmchugh]

It was over in less than 30 seconds, though it was some while before the capsule could be opened.
Remembering these men today, 1/27/2023: 56 years gone, never forgotten.
#heroes

[Jugi_boy]

I went down the rabbit hole of the Apollo one tragedy, I saw the photos and heard the audio. To be honest I was pretty shook since I don’t normally let my morbid curiosity take control. I just feel so bad for those men and their families.

[Showerman]

My grandfather knew Gus. He taught the original mercury astronauts how to use the aqualung, specifically John Glenn. After they were trained the mercury astronauts offered to take some of them up to fly. My grandfather hopped in a T-33 with Gus and went on a ride. He speaks very fondly of them all and always says they were the best of the best.

[bensonjarvis]

It’s the silence after that is deafening

[kepler]

0:44 Not how the hull ruptured but it definitely drove the point home.

[tyrionlannister]

Sadly it was far more horrific than this portrays, I don’t recommend it but the actual audio can be found on YouTube..

[deltonwilliams]

Rest in peace apollo 1 crew gus ed white you guys are my heroes 😔🕯

[JcBoi]

the way the door pops is just gruesome. really demonstrates the capsule pressure.

[lexusdriver]

January 27, 1967 was the worst day for NASA. It shows to NASA how dangerous space flight is when it comes to the first phase which is launch.

[carlhawkins-tuyl]

This is why it infuriates me when someone says the moon landings were faked.

[bemhibbits]

There's actual audio...not sure I'd recommend or not. It's haunting

[neohiowx]

They likely died within 15 seconds to to the fumes, not the flames. Ed whites screams of pain may have been a second or teo before the crews deaths

[natesturm]

The true first small steps are always the most dangerous. Without those men taking those steps, we wouldn't have made it. They're actually heroes and will never be forgotten as such.

[tartzmir]

The actual real life audio tape actually sound more grim and hopeless mood

[StephenLuke]

RIP
Gus Grissom
(1926-1967)
Ed White
(1930-1967)
and
Roger B. Chaffee
(1935-1967)

[ECKohns]

Gus Grissom almost drowned because the hatch opened too quickly. And he burned to death because the hatch took too long to open. May he, Roger Chaffee, and Ed White Rest in Peace.

[axolotl_memes]

it's weird to find out these men died on my birthday, (i wasn't born in 1967, I'm a gen z) and it's worse to hear about how they died. May they rest in peace

[viswanathanand]

0:45 you can see the suction from the fire sucking up the oxygen, scary stuff.

[justinholtman]

The true pioneers of space. They didn’t land on the moon but without them I don’t think WE DO