On January 27, 1967, astronauts Virgil Grissom, Edward White, and Roger Chaffee were preparing for a crucial test inside the Apollo capsule. Just one month before the scheduled launch of the first mission of the ambitious American lunar program, the three astronauts participated in what was intended to be a routine simulation. However, the test quickly devolved into tragedy as communication issues arose, and the capsule unexpectedly caught fire, resulting in the deaths of the Apollo pioneers.
The accident, the most significant catastrophe in the history of space exploration, initially threatened to halt America’s lunar ambitions. However, following a thorough investigation that ultimately revealed the cause of the tragic event, NASA was able to recover remarkably quickly and proceed with sending astronauts to the Moon as planned.
This documentary recounts the events of that fateful day.
Guest:
- Michel Tognini, former astronaut and head of the European Astronaut Centre (EAC)
Documentary Sources:
Books:
- Apollo, the history, the missions, the heroes – Olivier de Goursac, Flammarion, 2019
- Apollo, how they landed on the Moon – Charles Frankel, Dunod, 2018
Documentaries:
- Apollo 1, the story of a tragedy – Mark Craig, Arte, 2025
- Apollo 1, sacrificed for the Moon – Stardust, the air and space channel, Youtube
Discography:
- Carla Thomas: I’ve got no time to lose 1966
- Beck: Blue moon 2014
- Sébastien Tellier and Kid Cudi: Amnesia 2026
