This is absolutely AWESOME. Thank yousoooooo much for uploading this. I LOVE these old press conferences and live coverage from the old days of NASA. 20/20 hind sight really makes this video all the more dramatic and heart breaking. Knowing what all these people were about to go through makes this one very haunting.
It had been rumored for months that Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee would fly Apollo 1. Jim McDivitt, Rusty Schiekhart, and David Scott were the original backup crew, but that soon changed. The original crew for the second manned Apollo mission, Wally Scihrra, Walt Cunningham, and Donn Eislie, were yanked from that flight and became the Apollo 1 backup crew while the McDivitt crew inherited the second manned flight, which was to have been a low earth orbit test of the lunar module. But the LM fell behind schedule, so NASA decided to change the second manned flight from a low earth orbit LM test to a lunar orbital flight of the command module. McDivitt was offered the lunar orbut flight but he and his crew mates wanted to remain with the LM shakedown mission. The crew of the third Apollo mission (which would have been a high earth orbit test of the LM (Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders) were then offered the lunar orbit flight and accepted.
I think I read somewhere that Donn Eislie was supposed to be on the first flight instead of Chaffee but hurt his arm in a zero-g trainer or something so he was taken off the flight.
Thanks for uploading this video. Great quality as usual. It's very eerie watching this press conference. No one knew of the disaster to come. RIP Apollo 1 crew.
Where did you find this one LM5? What a great find. I especially liked to see and hear Joe Shea, who resigned from NASA after being finger-pointed after the fire. It's amazing to see how poor a public speaker Bob Gilruth was, compared to the polish that the media expect today. The backup crew at this point (it changed later) eventually became the flight crew of Apollo 9 in spring 1969. The reference that "the hatch will be firmly closed" is hard to hear. RIP Gus, Roger and Ed.
Shea is kind of a tragic figure. For sure he shared some responsibility, but he was not the only one. But probably the one who personally suffered most from it, feeling very strongly from what's called survivor's guilt. And like Slayton asking himself forever if he could have stopped the fire developing had he been in the CM with the astronauts. Which had been discussed after Gus proposed it, but finally dismissed as there was no way install a fourth com loop in time.
Thanks for this upload! I had never seen this one. I remember when the pad fire happened in 1967 -- vividly. It was the day after my birthday. Have always thought it strange that this accident, and subsequent NASA in-flight fatal accidents, all occur within a 7-day span. So I always take a moment to reflect when NASA holds the "Day of Remembrance" at the Cape.
Great historic document! And gives a nice insight into the human side of these people. Which especially in some moments, like when the hatch is mentioned, gives you creeps... Thank you for this great find!
Thank you very much LM5. Gus Grissom was an amazing astronaut and my favorite along John Young. Second on Mercury, first on Gemini and first (unfortunately) on Apollo. Speculations have that he would have been the 1st on the Moon. Godspeed the crew of Apollo 1 ❤
LM-5, you continue to amaze! Can't tell you how good it makes me feel to see these videos of the Apollo 1 crew coming out. I loved Gus' answer to the question at 10:40 . I'll send a note to Gus' sons and brothers about this video. Thanks again for all you do!
You are welcome Nick - please send them my regards - there is plenty of Apollo 1 footage on the national archive site if they are interested - regards Lm5
Mrs. Gus Grissom said, “The CIA has killed my husband” she said this publicly. Gus called the capsule, Spam in a can, meaning the men inside the capsule. Some people think all his complaining got him burned up.
Speaking about that hatch is very eerie.
The gift of hindsight...
'Gus' Grissom was a hero of mine, great video. RIP legends, you paved the way to the Moon.
Yeah, such a shame that they couldn't be there to see it happen.
Thanks for uploading these!
You are most welcome MD
This is absolutely AWESOME. Thank yousoooooo much for uploading this. I LOVE these old press conferences and live coverage from the old days of NASA. 20/20 hind sight really makes this video all the more dramatic and heart breaking. Knowing what all these people were about to go through makes this one very haunting.
Well said MM
It had been rumored for months that Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee would fly Apollo 1.
Jim McDivitt, Rusty Schiekhart, and David Scott were the original backup crew, but that soon changed.
The original crew for the second manned Apollo mission, Wally Scihrra, Walt Cunningham, and Donn Eislie, were yanked from that flight and became the Apollo 1 backup crew while the McDivitt crew inherited the second manned flight, which was to have been a low earth orbit test of the lunar module.
But the LM fell behind schedule, so NASA decided to change the second manned flight from a low earth orbit LM test to a lunar orbital flight of the command module.
McDivitt was offered the lunar orbut flight but he and his crew mates wanted to remain with the LM shakedown mission.
The crew of the third Apollo mission (which would have been a high earth orbit test of the LM (Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and Bill Anders) were then offered the lunar orbit flight and accepted.
I think I read somewhere that Donn Eislie was supposed to be on the first flight instead of Chaffee but hurt his arm in a zero-g trainer or something so he was taken off the flight.
Thanks for uploading this video. Great quality as usual. It's very eerie watching this press conference. No one knew of the disaster to come. RIP Apollo 1 crew.
Welcome Michael
Where did you find this one LM5? What a great find. I especially liked to see and hear Joe Shea, who resigned from NASA after being finger-pointed after the fire. It's amazing to see how poor a public speaker Bob Gilruth was, compared to the polish that the media expect today. The backup crew at this point (it changed later) eventually became the flight crew of Apollo 9 in spring 1969. The reference that "the hatch will be firmly closed" is hard to hear. RIP Gus, Roger and Ed.
Hi mate - its on the national archive catalogue site - as is a load of info and video etc
Shea is kind of a tragic figure. For sure he shared some responsibility, but he was not the only one. But probably the one who personally suffered most from it, feeling very strongly from what's called survivor's guilt. And like Slayton asking himself forever if he could have stopped the fire developing had he been in the CM with the astronauts. Which had been discussed after Gus proposed it, but finally dismissed as there was no way install a fourth com loop in time.
Thank you for your work. What a fantastic part of Apollo history.
U r most welcome
My neighbor growing up was NASA Engineer Max Faget. Great guy and he knew Apollo 1 quite well. Also was there when they disassembled it.
That's a lucky childhood!
Would have liked to have met Max...from Mercury thru Shuttle he was key
They deserved so much better 🥺
One word: Heartbreaking.
Thanks for this upload! I had never seen this one. I remember when the pad fire happened in 1967 -- vividly. It was the day after my birthday. Have always thought it strange that this accident, and subsequent NASA in-flight fatal accidents, all occur within a 7-day span. So I always take a moment to reflect when NASA holds the "Day of Remembrance" at the Cape.
The Challenger happened on my 17th birthday. It's a rough week for sure.
Three University of Michigan graduates up there: Ed White, Jim McDivitt and Joe Shea
Thanks for posting. Apollo 1 footage is haunting.
Welcome Steve
Great historic document! And gives a nice insight into the human side of these people. Which especially in some moments, like when the hatch is mentioned, gives you creeps... Thank you for this great find!
U r welcome KS
Thank you very much LM5. Gus Grissom was an amazing astronaut and my favorite along John Young. Second on Mercury, first on Gemini and first (unfortunately) on Apollo. Speculations have that he would have been the 1st on the Moon. Godspeed the crew of Apollo 1 ❤
20:10 detail Virgil Gus Grissom wore his wristwatch on a Jacoby Bender Champion steel mesh bracelet as allowed by NASA #MoonwatchUniverse
Very sad, to see Joe Shea of all people, talking to the Crew, about the Hatch not being opened until the second mission.......
Very poignant moment
THANK YOU!!
You are welcome 2cycle
Enjoyed seeing and hearing Joe Shea speakm so much was written about him. Hard to believe out of 7 on the dias, 3 dead and one breakdown.
Great upload! Thumbs up so hard it hurts.
Thank you! Cheers!
LM-5, you continue to amaze! Can't tell you how good it makes me feel to see these videos of the Apollo 1 crew coming out. I loved Gus' answer to the question at 10:40 . I'll send a note to Gus' sons and brothers about this video. Thanks again for all you do!
You are welcome Nick - please send them my regards - there is plenty of Apollo 1 footage on the national archive site if they are interested - regards Lm5
Very rare footage in which Bob Gilruth does more than sit in a chair behind the astronauts like a king on his throne
5:53 wow what foreshadowing.
Ed White would have been a great First Man.
If apollo 1 actually went to the moon, I believe Gus was chosen as the first
"The hatch won't be opened until Block 2"...How ironic, that this is what contributed to these astronaut's deaths!
At 10:57 - YEAH GUS! Probably where John Young got his sense of humor.
Somewhat difficult to watch knowing the fate that awaited those men.
Heartbreaking.
You've got the date wrong. The Apollo 1 crew was announced on March 21, 1966. Not May 16.
Why did the back up crew not replace the prime crew after the fire? I'd always assumed Schirra/Eisle/Cunningham were back up on Apollo 1
The program and spacecraft were completely overhauled.
They were. They became the backup crew after Apollo 2 was cancelled.
Mrs. Gus Grissom said, “The CIA has killed my husband” she said this publicly. Gus called the capsule, Spam in a can, meaning the men inside the capsule. Some people think all his complaining got him burned up.