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Spirited Salute to Fallen Apollo 1 Crew
By Leonard David
Senior Space Writer
posted: 08:00 am ET
28 January 2004
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marsroversPASADENA, Calif. -- NASA has memorialized the Apollo 1 crew -- Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee -- by dedicating the hills surrounding the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Spirit's landing site in Gusev Crater to the late astronauts. The crew of Apollo 1 perished in flash fire during a launch pad test of their Apollo spacecraft at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. That tragic accident took place on January 27, 1967 - 37 years ago. While an investigation of the accident was conducted and corrective actions taken, there was a hiatus of about 18 months before another manned Apollo mission was ready. "Through recorded history explorers have had both the honor and responsibility of naming significant landmarks," said NASA administrator Sean O'Keefe. "Gus, Ed and Roger's contributions, as much as their sacrifice, helped make our giant leap for mankind possible. Today, as America strides towards our next giant leap, NASA and the Mars Exploration Rover team created a fitting tribute to these brave explorers and their legacy." Newly christened "Grissom Hill" is located 4.7 miles (7.5 kilometers) to the southwest of Spirit's position in Gusev Crater. "White Hill" is 7 miles (11.2 kilometers) northwest of its position and "Chaffee Hill" is 8.9 miles (14.3 kilometers) south-southwest of the rover's position.
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