Crewed spacecraftLost
Apollo command module 012
Apollo Block I command module
Vehicle and mission dossier
Apollo 1
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.
Flight profile
- Launch
- Planned for February 21, 1967; never launched after the January 27, 1967 ground-test fire
Vehicle record
- Manufacturer
- North American Aviation, Grumman, or Apollo program contractors
- Launch system
- Saturn IB
- Mission status
- Tragedy
- Mission type
- Crewed Earth-orbit test, lost during ground test
- Crew
- Virgil I. Grissom, Edward H. White II, Roger B. Chaffee
- Launch vehicle
- Saturn IB
- Program
- Apollo
- Crew complement
- 3
- Outcome
- Tragedy
- Archive classification
- Human spaceflight
- Primary objective
- Apollo ground-test fire
Flight objectives
- 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.
Flight timeline
- Planned for February 21, 1967; never launched after the January 27, 1967 ground-test fireApollo 1 beginsApollo command module 012 began Apollo 1 to Complete an integrated plugs-out test of command module 012, its crew, pad systems, and ground support.
- OperationsPrepare the first crewed Block I command-and-service-module mission for Earth-orbit operationsSpacecraft: 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 resultApollo 1: Complete an integrated plugs-out test of command module 012, its crew, pad systems, and ground supportApollo 1 was the planned first crewed Apollo command-and-service-module mission.
- TragedyApollo 1: TragedyImplement spacecraft, materials, atmosphere, hatch, wiring, quality-control, and test-procedure changes before returning Apollo crews to flight.
