A small Bronze plaque commemorates
the fate of Chaffee, Grissom and White:
Near half a century has passed
since their final, fatal night.
Ad Astra per Aspera-
a rough road to the Stars.
We do well to remember that
as we make our try for Mars.
The fire was horrific
and death, though quick, was cruel:
Like heretics of an earlier age
they served as human fuel.
Engineers by radio
could hear their muffled cries.
Thick black smoke drove back
the men who made a rescue try.
Poorly insulated wires
had given off a spark.
pure oxygen has fed the flames
on that distant night so dark
Ad Astra per Aspera
a proud epitaph for them:
Apollo’s sons who heard his call
to search the skies again.
Jan 30, 2012
Jan 30, 2012 at 7:52 AM UTC
A small Bronze plaque commemorates
the fate of Chaffee, Grissom and White:
Near half a century has passed
since their final, fatal night.
Ad Astra per Aspera-
a rough road to the Stars.
We do well to remember that
as we make our try for Mars.
The fire was horrific
and death, though quick, was cruel:
Like heretics of an earlier age
they served as human fuel.
Engineers by radio
could hear their muffled cries.
Thick black smoke drove back
the men who made a rescue try.
Poorly insulated wires
had given off a spark.
pure oxygen has fed the flames
on that distant night so dark
Ad Astra per Aspera
a proud epitaph for them:
Apollo’s sons who heard his call
to search the skies again.
On January 27, 1966, Roger Chaffee, Gus Grissom and Edward White became the first American Astronauts to die in the U.S. space program when an electrical fire swept through their command module on launch pad #34 during what was supposed to be a routine practice and systems check. The manned Apollo Space program was delayed 20 months while the cause was determined and changes were made to the capsule. The program triumphed over tragedy on 7/20/1969 with the first manned moon landings
Ad Astra per Aspera – A rough road leads to the stars
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