The Apollo 1 Disaster: The Tragedy That Landed a Man on the Moon https://youtu.be/QWp9Wy31G80 Elie Musfeldt and Natalie Pujet Junior Division Documentary Process Paper Word Count: 500 Process Paper When we began our project, we created a list of topic ideas. We both have an interest in the history of astronomy and spaceflight, so we began to explore topics relating to the Space Race. As we started in-depth research on a few of our ideas, we discovered that in addition to having palpable ties to tragedy, the Apollo 1 disaster had many fascinating connections to Apollo 11’s first manned lunar landing and the American triumph in the Space Race. We learned that after the disaster, safety protocols and operations were transformed, making it possible to land on the Moon safely. We were intrigued, and selected this as our topic. After further research, we found that the United States winning the Space Race was a key turning point in the Cold War. The majority of our research was conducted in the Boulder Public Library and University of Colorado Norlin Library databases. Some of the sources we found this way were New York Times articles about the fire dating back to 1967. We also studied the complete report of the NASA review board that investigated the fire. It details all of the changes that were made to the Command Module after the fire, and examines the events leading up to the fire. In addition, we discovered online an interview with an Apollo 1 launch pad technician, Stephen Clemmons, who was on the launch pad during the fire and attempted to rescue the astronauts. He relayed an extremely detailed account of the fire and subsequent changes, having experienced both first-hand. We chose documentary as our project category because we were both interested in making a visual and auditory representation of our research to bring these events to life. In our research, we found authentic footage, photos, newspapers, and audio that we wanted to display. Creating a documentary gave us the opportunity to learn about video production techniques and how to use editing software. We also created and performed our own music to add to the tone of our documentary. Overall, a documentary was a great way to creatively display all of our research. The Apollo 1 fire fits the theme of tragedy because on January 27, 1967, the mission disastrously failed during a ground test. A capsule fire, caused by major design flaws and safety oversights, resulted in the deaths of the first three Apollo astronauts. This disaster profoundly affected the spirit of the nation since the Space Race had been a source of hope for Americans during the paranoia of the Cold War. Our topic fits the theme of triumph because the review board created shortly after the fire found many safety issues with the capsule and operations that were remedied, making the Moon program more efficient and less hazardous. These changes also prevented further fatalities in the Apollo Program. Saving the Apollo program allowed the United States to beat the Soviet Union to the Moon, which was a major triumph as well as a symbol of technological and scientific superiority. Annotated Bibliography Primary Sources Aftermath. Space.com, www.space.com/10674-apollo-1-fire-nasa-disaster.html. This photograph shows the burned exterior of the Apollo 1 capsule after the fire. It helped us realize the full extent of the damage caused by the fire. We used this image in our documentary to show the viewers how real and how serious the fire was. After the Fire. Space.com, www.space.com/10674-apollo-1-fire-nasa-disaster.html. This photograph shows the Apollo 1 command module on January 28, 1967, the day after the fire. It clearly shows how the intense heat of the fire affected the interior of the capsule, so we used it in our documentary. Agena Target Docking Vehicle. Wikipedia, upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Gemini_10_-_Agena_Target_Dockin g_Vehicle.jpg. The photograph was taken during the Gemini 10 mission and shows the Agena Target Docking Vehicle and Gemini 10 spacecraft during rendezvous (docking). The Agena was launched 100 minutes before Gemini 10, and one of the goals of the mission was to complete a successful rendezvous in space. We showed this image in our documentary when we talked about the Mercury and Gemini Programs and rendezvous. Angle on Apollo. Space.com, www.space.com/10674-apollo-1-fire-nasa-disaster.html. This image shows mechanics working on the Apollo 1 command module heat shield from the z-axis. This would have prevented the command module from burning up upon reentry into Earth’s atmosphere. APOLLO DEATHS LAID TO CHANGE IN PLANS. (1967, Apr 22). New York Times (1923-Current File) Retrieved from https://0-search-proquest-com.nell.flatironslibrary.org/docview/118084122?accounti d=48257 This primary source article helped us understand that the safety of the Apollo 1 crew was not taken into consideration when many poor decisions were made. It taught us that the original plan for the test on January 27, 1967, was to have the hatches open, but in October 1966, NASA changed it to a closed hatch test, claiming it would not be hazardous. They were very wrong. Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin stands next to a flag on the Moon on July 20, 1969. B usiness Insider, www.businessinsider.com/american-flags-moon-color-bleached-white-2017-4. This image shows astronaut Buzz Aldrin standing next to the American flag on the Moon. This image was taken on July 20, 1969, during the Apollo 11 mission, which was also the first manned lunar landing. Apollo 11 Launch Team. Nalfl.com , www.nalfl.com/?page_id=2523&cpage=1 This image shows the Apollo 11 mission control team. We used this image in our documentary to illustrate how organized and professional NASA became after the accident. "APOLLO 1, ABC news coverage, interview with the crew, Jan. 27, 1967." Y ouTube , uploaded by Dan Beaumont Space Museum, 14 Dec. 2011, www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm3_kwTD2SM This primary source video news coverage contains interviews with all three crew members from the morning before the fire, which was helpful footage when making our documentary. The crew members talk about their philosophy about the risks in spaceflight, and after watching it, we realized that all three of them accepted that they had a dangerous job and were prepared to give their lives for their country. Apollo 1 Astronauts Training. S pace.com, /https://www.space.com/10674-apollo-1-fire-nasa-disaster.html This image shows the Apollo 1 command module undergoing an altitude chamber test, which would simulate the conditions in space. We used it in our documentary. Apollo 1 Audio - 27 January, 1967. NASA, 2016. YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=274lQSbpkRg This primary source audio recording helped us see what transmissions were made during the test and fire. This helped us understand exactly how everything happened, and how mission control at NASA reacted when they heard there was a fire. We used parts of this in our documentary. Apollo 1 Capsule Hoisted to Rocket. Space.com, /https://www.space.com/10674-apollo-1-fire-nasa-disaster.html This image shows the Apollo 1 command module being loaded onto the AS-204 rocket at launch pad 34 in Cape Kennedy. We did not put this image in our documentary, but it helped us understand what the rocket and capsule looked like when we started our project. The Apollo 1 Command Module. Space.com, /https://www.space.com/10674-apollo-1-fire-nasa-disaster.html This image shows the Apollo 1 command module, built by North American Aviation, during a pre-shipping phase. We used this image in our documentary. Apollo 1 Crew. S pace.com , www.space.com/10674-apollo-1-fire-nasa-disaster.html This image shows, from left to right, astronauts White, Grissom and Chaffee posing for the crew portrait for the Apollo 1 mission. We used this in our documentary to introduce the viewers to the crew. The Apollo 1 crew expressed their concerns about their spacecraft's problems by presenting this parody of their crew portrait to ASPO manager Joseph Shea on August 19, 1966. Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_1 This image shows the Apollo 1 crew praying to a model of their command module as a parody of their crew portrait. The astronauts were mock-praying as a testament hoping nothing would go wrong due to the many problems of the spacecraft. This showed us that the crew was aware of all of the problems their capsule was having and that they were concerned about the safety of the mission. We used this in our documentary because it showed that the crew was concerned and tragically foreshadowed the accident. The Apollo 1 Crew, from Left to Right, Roger Chaffee, Ed White and Gus Grissom. Space.com, www.space.com/17338-apollo-1.html This image shows the Apollo 1 crew. From left to right, it shows Roger Chaffee, Ed White, and Gus Grissom seated in the capsule during a test. Apollo 1 Crew Members Walk Across a Catwalk to the Launch Pad 34 Whiteroom to Board Their Spacecraft on Jan. 27, 1967. Collect Space, www.collectspace.com/news/news-012707a.html This image shows the Apollo 1 crew walking across the catwalk to the white room, a small chamber that would help them access the command module, right before the start of the test. This image is among the last taken of the crew before the fire.