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Apollo 1

Apollo 1 was the planned first crewed mission of NASA’s Apollo program and was originally designated AS-204.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Apollo 1 was the planned first crewed mission of NASA’s Apollo program, originally designated AS-204. The mission never launched; on 27 January 1967, a cabin fire during a launch rehearsal test killed astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger B. Chaffee and destroyed the command module.

Background

Apollo 1 was planned as the first crewed Apollo mission after the Gemini program and was meant to help prepare NASA for lunar missions. It was scheduled to be an early Earth-orbital test of the Apollo command and service module.

Apollo 1 fire

During a launch rehearsal test on 27 January 1967, a flash fire broke out inside the command module. The fire killed Grissom, White, and Chaffee and destroyed the spacecraft.

Investigation and naming

After the accident, NASA officially applied the name Apollo 1 to the mission. Investigations identified smoke, toxic gases, and thermal burns as causes of death, and the disaster prompted major spacecraft and testing changes.

Legacy

Apollo 1 became one of the defining tragedies of the U.S. space program. The accident delayed the Apollo program and contributed to later safety improvements before crewed flights resumed.

Key facts

  • Apollo 1 was intended to be the first crewed mission of the Apollo program and to test the command and service module in low Earth orbit.
  • The mission was originally known as AS-204 before being officially named Apollo 1 after the disaster.
  • A fire occurred during a prelaunch rehearsal test while the spacecraft was on the launch pad.
  • All three astronauts on board died in the accident, and the command module was destroyed.
  • NASA later treated the accident as a major setback that led to design and safety changes in the Apollo program.
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Canadian context

Apollo 1 is relevant to Canadian readers as part of the wider history of space exploration that shaped later international cooperation in space, including Canada’s long-standing involvement with NASA missions and space technology.

Frequently asked questions

What was Apollo 1?
Apollo 1 was NASA’s planned first crewed Apollo mission, originally designated AS-204.
Did Apollo 1 ever launch?
No. The mission never flew because a cabin fire occurred during a launch rehearsal test on the launch pad.
Who were the Apollo 1 crew members?
The crew was Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, Edward H. White II, and Roger B. Chaffee.
When did the Apollo 1 fire happen?
The fire occurred on 27 January 1967.
Why is it called Apollo 1 if the mission was originally AS-204?
NASA officially renamed the mission Apollo 1 after the accident, using the name the crew had intended to use.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_1
    Supports: Basic mission identification, original designation AS-204, crew, accident date, and outcome
  2. NASA — https://www.nasa.gov/apollo-1-resources/
    Supports: Mission context, fire date, crew names, and launch-pad test circumstances
  3. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum — https://airandspace.si.edu/explore/stories/apollo-missions/apollo-1
    Supports: Renaming to Apollo 1, cause of death, and program impact
  4. NASA — https://sma.nasa.gov/sma-disciplines/accllp/apollo-1
    Supports: AS-204 designation, planned first crewed Apollo flight, and fire-related deaths