apollo 1 https://www.cfpublic.org/tags/apollo-1 apollo 1 en-US Copyright Wed, 27 Jan 2016 06:02:29 GMT Air Force Remembers Apollo 1 Astronauts https://www.cfpublic.org/2016-01-27/air-force-remembers-apollo-1-astronauts The Air Force is remembering three Apollo astronauts who died 39 years ago at Cape Canaveral. Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Edward White, and Roger Chaffee died during a command module fire at launch complex 34. Astronauts (left to right) Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee, pose in front of Launch Complex 34 which is housing their Saturn 1 launch vehicle. The astronauts died ten days later in a fire on the launch pad. Photo: NASA
Astronauts (left to right) Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee, pose in front of Launch Complex 34 which is housing their Saturn 1 launch vehicle. The astronauts died ten days later in a fire on the launch pad. Photo: NASA

The Air Force is remembering three Apollo astronauts who died 49 years ago at Cape Canaveral.

Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Edward White, and Roger Chaffee died during a command module fire at launch complex 34.

It was during a launch pad test for what would be the first Apollo mission, NASA’s program to send humans to the moon.

Speakers from NASA, the Air Force and Navy will remember the three astronauts, and family members will light a candle at the launch complex in their memory. At 6:31 pm, the time of the fire, there will be a moment of silence.

The tragedy delayed manned spaceflight for 20 months. The Apollo 1 backup crew returned to flight on Apollo 7.

]]> Wed, 27 Jan 2016 06:02:29 GMT https://www.cfpublic.org/2016-01-27/air-force-remembers-apollo-1-astronauts Brendan Byrne