Gus Grissom

Virgil Ivan "Gus" Grissom (April 3, 1926 – January 27, 1967) was a U.S. Air Force pilot who became one of the first American astronauts and one of the first to die in the U.S. space program.

Death

Grissom was made commander of Apollo 1, intended to be the first manned Apollo flight. He was killed along with fellow astronauts Ed White and Roger B. Chaffee in the Apollo 1 fire at Cape Kennedy on January 27 1967. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Related Topics:
Apollo 1 - Ed White - Roger B. Chaffee - Cape Kennedy - January 27 - 1967 - Arlington National Cemetery

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NASA management wanted one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts to be the first man to eventually walk on the moon. Had Grissom lived, he would very likely have been that man.

Related Topics:
NASA - Mercury Seven

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He logged a total of 4,600 hours flying time, including 3,500 hours in jet aircraft.

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