Today is NASA Day of Remembrance. Today, NASA honors those who lost their lives while “furthering the cause of exploration and discovery.” Specifically, in this post, we will review the horrific accidents of Apollo 1 and Challenger.
What was Apollo 1 and its incident?
The Apollo 1 incident was when, on Jan. 27, 1967, two astronauts perished in a fatal accident. The astronauts were sitting on the launch pad during a prelaunch test when a fire broke out in the Apollo capsule. The astronauts were Ed White—the first American spacewalker—and rookie Roger Chaffee.
The accident led to design and engineering improvements to make the Apollo spacecraft safer and more reliable.
What was the Challenger?
The Challenger was a shuttle whose launch killed all seven crewmembers. A mere 73 seconds after launch, the booster engine failed and broke apart. The crew who lost their lives are listed below:
- Francis R. (Dick) Scobee
- Michael J. Smith
- Judith A. Resnik
- Ronald E. McNair
- Ellison S. Onizuka
- Gregory B. Jarvis
- S. Christa McAuliffe
When did this observance begin?
The observance officially began in 2014, but the tradition of honoring fallen astronauts started in 1987.
When is this observance?
The observance typically falls on the final Thursday in the month of January.
Further Reading:
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