Senior Pilot Edward H. White II, Command Pilot Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom, and Pilot Roger B. Chaffee died when their Apollo-Saturn 204 command module ignited during a simulated launch. The tragedy stunned the nation and raised questions about National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) operations and the future of America’s lunar landing program.
From The New York Times, 2015. © 1967 The New York Times. All rights reserved. Used by permission and protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States. The printing, copying, redistribution, or retransmission of this content without express written permission is prohibited.
The New York Times, front page, January 27, 1967
Apollo 204 and the Phillips Report
America’s manned lunar spaceflight program suffered a tragedy on January 27, 1967, when the Apollo-Saturn 204 (later named Apollo 1) command module burst into flames during a pre-launch test, killing its crew. While the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) internally reviewed the fatal accident, both houses of Congress launched independent investigations. A Senate hearing uncovered a 1965 report by Apollo Program Director Major General Samuel Phillips that revealed problems NASA had not previously disclosed. The discovery of the Phillips Report led to more stringent congressional oversight of NASA.
I think the key question is whether we are going to be limited to information which NASA wants us to have or whether we will be provided with the critical information such as the Phillips report
Senator Walter Mondale of Minnesota, Apollo Accident, May 9, 1967
Senior Pilot Edward H. White II, Command Pilot Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom, and Pilot Roger B. Chaffee died when their Apollo-Saturn 204 command module ignited during a simulated launch. The tragedy stunned the nation and raised questions about National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) operations and the future of America’s lunar landing program.
From The New York Times, 2015. © 1967 The New York Times. All rights reserved. Used by permission and protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States. The printing, copying, redistribution, or retransmission of this content without express written permission is prohibited.
