Flight of the Phoenix

摘要

Within 15 seconds on January 27,1967, the U.S. space program changed forever. An exposed wire sparked in the pure-oxygen environment of the Apollo 1 command module, at the time undergoing a routine "plugs out" test on the launchpad. In seconds, fire swept through the cabin. The crew tried desperately to open the complicated hatch-which in the best of conditions required 90 seconds to unlock, including assistance from the outside. Seconds later, all three-commander Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee-were asphyxiated. With them nearly died the entire Apollo moon shot.