Description

Apollo 1 Patch

Space fans and collectors!  Enjoy the beautifully embroidered Apollo 1 Patch.  It is the perfect tribute to this crew!

• 4 inches
• Embroidered/Sew On
• US Veteran-Owned Business

Apollo 1, initially designated AS-204, was planned to be the first crewed mission of the Apollo program—the ambitious American endeavor aimed at landing the first human on the Moon. Let’s delve into the details of this pivotal mission:

• Mission Overview:
  • Objective: Apollo 1 was intended to be a low-Earth orbital test of the Apollo command and service module (CSM).
  • Astronauts: The crew consisted of:
    • Gus Grissom (Command Pilot)
    • Ed White (Senior Pilot)
    • Roger B. Chaffee (Pilot)
  • Launch Date: Originally scheduled for February 21, 1967, the mission aimed to demonstrate the performance, launch operations, and control facilities of the Apollo-Saturn V launch vehicle.
  • Tragic Incident: During a launch rehearsal test at Cape Kennedy Air Force Station Launch Complex 34 on January 27, 1967, disaster struck. A cabin fire erupted inside the command module (CM), resulting in the loss of all three crew members—Grissom, White, and Chaffee.
  • Cause of Fire: The ignition source was determined to be electrical, and the fire spread rapidly due to combustible nylon material and the high-pressure pure oxygen cabin atmosphere.
  • Rescue Challenges: Tragically, the plug door hatch could not be opened against the internal pressure of the cabin, preventing rescue efforts.
  • Official Name: The crew had chosen the name Apollo 1, which NASA officially adopted in their honor after the fire.
  • Investigations: NASA conducted an Accident Review Board, and both chambers of the United States Congress conducted their own inquiries. The Phillips Report revealed problems with prime Apollo contractor North American Aviation.
  • Legacy: Despite the tragedy, Apollo flights were suspended for twenty months while addressing hazards. The development and uncrewed testing of the lunar module (LM) and Saturn V rocket continued.
  • Remembering Apollo 1: This accident served as a wake-up call for NASA, leading to significant redesigns of the spacecraft and launch pad safety measures