Apollo 1
Mission / eventTragedy
Apollo 1: Complete an integrated plugs-out test of command module 012, its crew, pad systems, and ground support
Apollo 1 was the planned first crewed Apollo command-and-service-module mission. During a plugs-out launch rehearsal on January 27, 1967, a cabin fire killed Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee inside command module 012. The investigation led NASA and its contractors to redesign the hatch, cabin atmosphere, wiring, plumbing, materials, emergency provisions, quality control, and ground-test procedures before crewed Apollo flight resumed.
Mission photo archive
Reviewed photographs documenting Apollo 1. Every image links to its official NASA catalog record.
Prime crew of Apollo/Saturn Mission 204 prepares for water egress training
S66-58501 (27 Oct. 1966) --- The prime crew of the first manned Apollo Space Flight, Apollo/Saturn (AS) mission 204, is suited up aboard the NASA Motor Vessel Retriever (MVR) in preparation for Apollo water egress training in the Gulf of Mexico. Left to right, are astronauts Edward H. White II, senior pilot; Virgil I. Grissom, command pilot; and Roger B. Chaffee, pilot.
APOLLO SPACECRAFT (A/S)-012 - PAD 34 - SATURN 204 ERECTION - MATING - CAPE
S67-17042 (1967) --- Apollo Spacecraft 012 is hoisted to the top of the gantry at Pad 34 during the Apollo/Saturn Mission 204 erection. S/C 012 will be mated with the uprated Saturn I launch vehicle.
Prime Crew - Apollo/Saturn (A/S) Mission 204 - North American Aviation (NAA), Inc., CA
S66-49181 (August 1966) --- The three crew members for the Apollo-Saturn 204 (AS-204) mission check out the couch installation on the Apollo Command Module (CM) at North American's Downey facility. Left to right in their pressurized space suits are astronauts Virgil I. Grissom, Roger B. Chaffee and Edward H. White II. Editor's Note: The three astronauts died in a fire on the launch pad, Jan. 27, 1967.
Mission dossier
Flight profile, locations, hardware, and outcome in the same reference format used throughout the archive.
Flight profile
- Launch
- Planned for February 21, 1967; never launched after the January 27, 1967 ground-test fire[3]
Mission record
- Vehicle
- Apollo command module 012[3]
- Mission type
- Crewed Earth-orbit test, lost during ground test[3]
- Test site
- Cape Kennedy, Launch Complex 34[3]
- Launch vehicle
- Saturn IB[3]
- Program
- Apollo[1]
- Crew complement
- 3[3]
- Outcome
- Tragedy[3]
- Archive classification
- Crewed ground-test loss; mission never launched[1]
- Primary objective
- Apollo ground-test fire[3]
Mission locations
3 sourcesDocumented surface, test, landing, and recovery locations. Map links use the cited place name or exact coordinates; AstronautAtlas does not geocode or estimate missing positions.
Departure or test site
Test site
Cape Kennedy, Launch Complex 34
Incident and investigation
1967-01-27
Apollo 1 Fire
A cabin fire during a of Apollo 204 at Launch Complex 34 killed Virgil I. Grissom, Edward H. White II, and Roger B. Chaffee. The investigation and spacecraft redesign delayed crewed Apollo flights and reshaped NASA safety practices.
- Date
- January 27, 1967
- Location
- Launch Complex 34, Cape Kennedy, Florida
- Related mission
- Apollo 1 / AS-204
- Outcome
- Loss of three crew members during a
Assignment Manifest
The flight crew and the backup team assigned to train for this mission.
Prime crew
3 assignmentsBackup crew
Trained for the mission but did not count as flown unless reassigned to the prime crew.
Mission Purpose
3 sources- Complete an integrated plugs-out test of command module 012, its crew, pad systems, and ground support.
- Prepare the first crewed Block I command-and-service-module mission for Earth-orbit operations.
- Determine the ignition path, fire propagation, cabin hazards, and escape limitations that caused the fatal accident.
- Implement spacecraft, materials, atmosphere, hatch, wiring, quality-control, and test-procedure changes before returning Apollo crews to flight.
Planned Flight Plan
3 sources- Planned for February 21, 1967; never launched after the January 27, 1967 ground-test fire
Apollo 1 begins
Apollo command module 012 was assigned to Complete an integrated plugs-out test of command module 012, its crew, pad systems, and ground support.
- Primary phase
Prepare the first crewed Block I command-and-service-module mission for Earth-orbit operations
Spacecraft: Apollo command and 012; Crew: Virgil I. Grissom, Edward H. White II, and Roger B. Chaffee; Test: Plugs-out integrated launch rehearsal at Launch Complex 34
- Mission objective
Determine the ignition path, fire propagation, cabin hazards, and escape limitations that caused the fatal accident
Apollo 1 operated within Apollo to pursue the program objective.
- Tragedy
Apollo 1 outcome
Apollo 1 concluded with the recorded status Tragedy: Apollo 1: Complete an integrated plugs-out test of command module 012, its crew, pad systems, and ground support.
Mission Timeline
3 sources- Planned for February 21, 1967; never launched after the January 27, 1967 ground-test fire
Apollo 1 begins
Apollo command module 012 began Apollo 1 to Complete an integrated plugs-out test of command module 012, its crew, pad systems, and ground support.
- Operations
Prepare the first crewed Block I command-and-service-module mission for Earth-orbit operations
Spacecraft: Apollo command and 012; Crew: Virgil I. Grissom, Edward H. White II, and Roger B. Chaffee; Test: Plugs-out integrated launch rehearsal at Launch Complex 34
- Defining result
Apollo 1: Complete an integrated plugs-out test of command module 012, its crew, pad systems, and ground support
Apollo 1 was the planned first crewed Apollo command-and-service-module mission.
- Tragedy
Apollo 1: Tragedy
Implement spacecraft, materials, atmosphere, hatch, wiring, quality-control, and test-procedure changes before returning Apollo crews to flight.