Gus grissom stands out as one of the first men to orbit the earth and was on the career track to become an apollo astronaut bound for the moon at the time of his death in 1967 in the apollo 1 fire. Gus grissom s mercury capsule sinks in an ocean landing after an explosion blows the escape hatch off prematurely. Grissom explained that he had gotten ahead in the mission timeline and had. Grissom memorial is intended to interest visitors of all ages in the successes and sacrifices of the early stages in americas space program. Grissom was one of the seven mercury astronauts selected by nasa in april 1959. Gus grissom was born on april 3, 1926 in mitchell, indiana, the oldest of four. Sep 21, 2016 evans media hd presents a marc evans film virgil i.
Virgil gus grissom born in mitchell, in met betty moore who he later married graduated from mitchell high school married betty moore and joined air f. Grissom middle school is committed to educating and making a difference in the lives of our students. Grissom worked as a latenight telephone operator for indiana bell while her husband studied mechanical engineering at purdue university. He was a project gemini and an apollo program astronaut. Grissom elementary school 1 sims avenue old bridge, nj 08857 732 3604481 fax. Virgil ivan gus grissom april 3, 1926 january 27, 1967 was a united states air force usaf pilot and a member of the mercury seven selected by national aeronautics and space administrations nasa as project mercury astronauts to be the first americans in outer space. Chaffee were killed, becoming the first casualties of the u. With the help of the gi bill, grissom attended purdue university, where he received a bs in mechanical engineering in 1950. Brother of virgil grissom visits boyhood home in indiana.
Virgil ivan gus grissom april 3, 1926 january 27, 1967 was a u. In this time, his signature remained relatively unchanged, but his habits did evolve before his death. Grissom, virgil ivan gus encyclopedia astronautica. Died january 27, 1967 in the apollo 204 fire at cape kennedy. Virgil gus grissom was a nasa astronaut who flew twice in space and was. The first spacerelated fatality happened in 1960 when a rocket exploded in kazakhstan, killing 165 people. The grave marker of virgil gus grissom from apollo 1 is seen after a wreath laying ceremony that was part of nasas day of remembrance on the 30th anniversary of the challenger accident, thursday, january 28, 2016, at arlington national cemetery in arlington, va. Aug 19, 2019 in the history of nasas space flights, virgil i.
Chaffee, was killed in a fire while testing their capsule on the pad on 27 january 1967, still weeks away from launch. Read cnn s fast facts to learn more about space accidents. Grissom funeral apollo 1 tragedy pictures cbs news. He flew in space as command pilot of mercuryredstone 4 1961. He was the second child of dennis david grissom, a railroad man for the baltimore and ohio railroad, and cecile king grissom, a housewife. The view, not particularly breathtaking, was blocked by metal and wire in. He was also a project gemini and an apollo program astronaut.
This flight lasted 15 minutes and 37seconds, attained an altitude of 118 statute miles, and traveled 302 miles downrange from the launch pad at cape. This flight lasted 15 minutes and 37 seconds, attained an altitude of 118 statute miles, and traveled 302 miles downrange from the launch pad at cape kennedy. Jun, 2016 the grissom family moved to the home on baker street, now grissom avenue, in 1926 when gus was about a year old. Boomhower, author and historian from indiana the subject. The spacecraft problems were corrected, and the apollo program carried.
Virgil ivan gus grissom april 3, 1926 january 27, 1967 was a united states air force. Alan shepard, virgil gus grissom, john glenn, scott carpenter, wally schirra. Virgil grissom high school located in huntsville, alabama al. Gus grissom was born on april 3, 1926 in mitchell, indiana, the oldest of four children. The 5thcentury ce author and statesman macrobius maintained virgil was born of country parents among the shrubs and woods. Gus grissom elementary school was operated by the department of defense dependents schools at the former clark air base, philippines. Seven astronauts are selected for the mercury program. Virgil ivan grissom was born at mitchell, indiana, the second of five children of dennis david grissom, an electrician, and cecile king grissom. On july 21st, 1961, grissom reached a suborbital altitude of about 118 miles above the earths surface in a 15 minute flight, before making his descent in the mercury capsule, which he dubbed the liberty. Sep 21, 20 read cnn s fast facts to learn more about space accidents. Virgil gus grissom is launched in liberty bell 7, but does not achieve orbit. Jun 12, 2017 virgil, sometimes spelled vergil, was born on october 15, 70 bce in andes, a small village near mantua north of the po river in cisalpine gaul.
There was a passion almost of love of mechanical objects in the sky. Before he was named apollo 1 commander, virgil gus grissom was a one of the original mercury seven astronauts chosen in 1959. Gus grissom simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. This development prods nasa to accelerate its program. Virgil ivan gus grissom april 3, 1926 january 27, 1967 was an american test pilot and astronaut. During a program test, an apollo capsule caught fire on the launch pad, taking the lives of astronauts roger b.
Gus grissom was born on april 3, 1926 in mitchell, indiana. If any flyer ever possessed that unshakeable faith in ones own infallibility that thing called the right stuff it was virgil i. Air force officer virgil gus grissom was one of the national atmospheric and space administrations nasa original crew of seven astronaut trainees. Gus grissom s home town of mitchell, indiana, honors its most famous son in ways suited to a guy who seemed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Gus grissom, one of the original mercury seven astronauts and first astronaut to fly into space twice, whose life was tragically caught short by a fire during a prelaunch test of the apollo 1 command module. Lieutenant colonel virgil ivan gus grissom was an american astronaut, mechanical architect, and united states aircraft tester who was a member of nasas mercury venture. He was a united states air force pilot was the second american to fly in space, and the first member of the nasa astronaut corps to fly in space twice. The grissom family moved to the home on baker street, now grissom avenue, in 1926 when gus was about a year old. He had four siblings, including an older sister who passed on before his introduction to the world. Gus grissom signed autographs for approximately seven years before his untimely death on january 27, 1967. Grissom memorial at spring mill state park the virgil i. My dads greatgrandfather, toliver grissom, was born april 12, 1821, the son of william grissom and eva jane evey rhodes, the grandson of charles and margrett grissom.
Toliver grissom died november 25, 1888 and is buried in long cemetery in van buren county, tennessee. Were an independent nonprofit that provides parents with indepth school quality information. John glenn, alan shepard, gus grissom and others embraced a clear and perilous mission. Originally named the wurtsmith hill school, it was renamed on november 14, 1968. Signatures should be signed quickly with no hesitation.
Nasa virgil ivan grissom 1944 gold and blue 3 april 1926. Remembering apollo 1 gus grissom, ed white, roger chaffee on. Wreaths were laid in memory of those men and women who lost their lives in the. Lieutenant colonel virgil ivan gus grissom april 3, 1926 january 27, 1967 was one of the original nasa project mercury astronauts, a united states air force test pilot and a mechanical engineer. Lieutenant colonel virgil ivan gus grissom had been part of the u. He was the second american to fly in space, and the first member of the nasa astronaut corps to fly in space twice grissom was killed along with fellow astronauts ed white and roger chaffee. The designation as204 was used by nasa for the flight at the time. Virgil ivan gus grissom april 3, 1926 january 27, 1967, lt col, usaf, was one of the original nasa project mercury astronauts, a united states air force. Gus grissom, one of americas original mercury seven astronauts, flew the second u. Virgil gus grissom was born on 3 april 1926, in mitchell, indiana. The capsule nickname policy was rescinded by nasa during the gemini program, during which mission managers. As a member of the nasa astronaut corps, grissom was the. Gus was selected as an astronaut after flying over a hundred combat missions in korea.
Dennis and cecile lived in the home until their deaths in the mid1990s. Lieutenant colonel virgil ivan gus grissom april 3, 1926 january. Air force pilot who became one of the first american astronauts. He became the first american from nasas astronaut corps to fly in space twice see the fact file below for more information on the gus grissom or alternatively, you can download our 19page gus grissom worksheet. Motivated by a strong interest in technology and aircraft construction, he completed one year of precadet training in the u. Virgil gus grissom gus grissom piloted the liberty bell 7 spacecraft the second and. On july 21, 1961, he piloted the liberty bell 7 spacecraft on the second and final suborbital mercury test flight. Nasa apollo missions this timeline will also provide the students a foundation nasa. Apr 03, 2016 today is the anniversary of the birth of virgil ivan gus grissom, one of the original nasa project mercury astronauts.
Grissom was convinced that man stood on the threshold of great, future adventures in space. Gus grissom memorial museum spring mill state park recorded in hd spring mill state park tuesday, september, 2016 editing printmaster. Grissom and crew killed on apollo 1 in preflight fire. Gus grissom national aeronautics and space administration wiki. Grissom middle school 35701 ryan road sterling heights, mi 48310. The incident prompted many changes in the apollo program.
Following high school, he served in the army air corps from 1944 to 1945. Grissom middle school was founded in tinley park, illinois, in 1975. He was a member of the hiy club, the camera club, and the signal club. He was one of the original seven astronauts selected for nasas project mercury in april 1959. Virgil ivan gus grissom, fodd 3 april 1926 i mitchell i indiana, dod 27 januari 1967 vid cape canaveral air force station i florida, var en amerikansk astronaut. The museum was dedicated in july 1971, ten years after gus s first flight, and four years after his death. Virgil gus ivan grissom 19261967 became the second american to travel into space when the national atmospheric and space administration nasa launched the liberty bell 7 on july 21, 1961. Grissom explained that he had gotten ahead in the mission timeline and had removed.
682 974 1643 62 1095 1471 1632 651 725 1229 562 1518 1429 941 509 1149 806 713 913 1431 1173 566 726 1605 445 1687 1014 400 1178 1303 1416 303 455 473 1190 865 141