About the Apollo 1 Launch Pad Fire

“Three astronauts were killed in the Apollo 1 launch pad fire on Jan. 27, 1967.”

The term “launch pad fire” is true, but to me it is not very descriptive of what actually happened on that fatal NASA  preflight test,  that late afternoon at LC-34 (Launch Complex 34), Jan 27, 1967.  As the only photographer for NASA, at the time specifically assigned to LC-34, including my own desk inside the blockhouse, I was only moments away from a NASA assignment to stay on over-time to take motion picture documentation of that test in progress.  I was to be filming the three astronauts, (Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee), up on the service structure, at the Command Module.  At the last minute, I was told to scrub (cancel)  my Job Order (assignment,) because they couldn’t get enough light up there.  Hence, the test was not documented on film.

Here is a good description fully of what happened, from the National Geographic Encyclopedia of SPACE. Linda K. Glover with Andrew Chaikin, Patricia S. Daniels, Andrea Gianopoulos, and Jonathan T. Malay, FOREWORD BY Buzz Aldrin.

Apollo 1
On January 27, 1967, the crew intended for the first manned Apollo flight—veteran astronauts Gus Grissom and Ed White and rookie Roger Chaffee—took part in a prelaunch rehearsal for their two-week mission, which was slated for mid-February.  The three astronauts were sealed onside their command module, which was pressurized with pure oxygen at 1.125 kilograms a square centimeter, slightly above atmospheric pressure.  At about 6:30 p.m. EST, fire suddenly erupted inside Apollo 1.  Within 20 seconds it spread throughout the cabin, creating such intense pressure that the spacecraft’s hull ruptured.  Ground crews struggled to open the craft’s three-piece hatch.  By the time they succeeded, many minutes had passed, and the astronauts were dead: They had been asphyxiated by toxic gases when their air hoses burned through.  In the months that followed, NASA investigated the cause of the fire and redesigned the command module with fireproof materials and a new quick-opening hatch; high-pressure pure oxygen was no longer used during ground tests.

Is JFK turning over in his grave?

Is JFK turning over in his grave? Is JFK turning over in his grave? Posted 3/27/2010 5:19 PM EDT on dailyrecord.com Donald Cole Replying to Al Neuharth’s column, “Plain Talk” at USA Today, USA Today founder: “As we give up space, JFK turns in grave?”    Wow! Does this ever bring back memories! I was a photographer, at the Cape, for NASA (Technicolor Corporation) all during that ten year race to the moon, Spacecraft Photographer. Now, here we are, those of us who are still alive, fifty years into the future of that yesteryear time, which still seems like just yesterday. So many thoughts, so much to say…I could write a book. I remember Al Neuharth, when you first started up USA Today, a spinoff of Today Newspaper, Cocoa, Fla. Dr. Debus wrote in Spaceport News that Cape Canaveral would become a space metropolis, so I spent the next ten years (the seventies) working my own photo studio and color lab, on Atlantic Ave., servicing NASA contractors on their photo needs outside the gate, Cape Canaveral and Cocoa Beach. Needless to say, who would have ever thought that so much would be shut down, and all the layoffs that followed. Now look at how many more space workers, contractors, scientists and engineers are going to be layed off, so we can create “more jobs” ?? –Don Cole Tip: Click on these images for enlargement.

Waterbed Factory Man, #16

September 28, 1980; Waterbed Factory Man gives NASA contractor employees, at the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida, a lecture on the latest technology and how to sleep faster.

Lap seams vs butt seams, and introduction to new character, 'Myth Man."

About the Space movie, “Marooned”…

About the Space movie, “Marooned”…

I was up at about 3 AM this morning watching the space movie “Marooned,” on the History channel.

Just prior to that was the movie, “The Right Stuff,” based on the documentary novel by Tom Wolfe, Cocoa Beach, which is great; and before that the movie, “For All Mankind, ” (1989) Jim Lovell. “For All Mankind,” was exciting for me to watch because of all the original NASA footage, some of which was probably my own stuff. I even thought I spotted myself in one or two of the scenes. (Mr. Ego) .8< ) Also, I think that the ‘Starlite Motel,’ in Cocoa Beach, is the same place my company sent me to, from Hollywood, California, never realizing it to be the same place in Cocoa Beach they sent early astronauts, –very ordinary motel, with small kitchen, I think.

Well, getting back to the movie, “Marooned,” –I especially made a point to watch it to the end, because they had Apollo 11 Astronaut, Buz Aldren on, discussing the movies at their beginnings, and ends. Buz talked about the author Tom Wolfe, when discussing the movie, “The Right Stuff,” but made no mention of the author Martin Caiden, when discussing the movie “Marooned.”

Okay, so here is some more insight to the movie, “Marooned,” which came out shortly before the Apollo 13 incident. This movie was adopted from Martin Caiden’s fictitious novel, “Marooned,” which the large credits do show, and also a smaller credit as technical advisor. Martin Caiden is also the author of the novel, “Cyborg,” which is what the “Million Dollar Man” shows were based on. (The doctor character, “Dr. Wells,” in Cocoa Beach, –was also my doctor, who the character was patterned after.)

I was working at the Cape during the time they were making “Marooned,” (and also from time to time, other movies in production, TV shows, and visiting VIPS). NASA had let the production company use one of the pads that was not at the time being used. This is where, they simulated a hurricane at the pad, etc. The movie starred Gregory Peck, and other famous actors. Then in later years, I had left NASA (Technicolor Corp., who held the NASA photo services contract) to run my own photo studio and color lab in Cape Canaveral, ( 6210 N. Atlantic Ave., Cape Canaveral, Fla.) servicing, amongst other things, weddings, commercial photogrraphy, etc., NASA contractors, primarily IBM. Martin Caiden would often drop in to my studio, and sit there talking to me for hours, it seemed, non stop. He did have me take some portrait photos of him..

Martin Caiden was an interesting character, gruff voice, and as I remember bare chested wearing a vest.

He told me he never went over or rewrote any of his books. He would just write them out one time, the same way he would talk. He seemed to be close to the astronauts, and knew about everything that was going on. In later years, I was watching a TV show, and there he was talking about his flying over the Bermuda Triangle in a light plane. He was also a pilot. So what ever happened to Martin Caiden, I don’t know, or if he is still alive? –dc

Remembering Walter Cronkite

I remember Walter Cronkite:

Like many, I grew up watching the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite.

“…and that’s the way it is, ________. (date). ”

I ran into Walter Cronkite, personally at times, while being a photographer for NASA, at Cape Canaveral, Fla., during the 1960’s. I would see Walter Cronkite at the CBS News trailer, at the NASA press site, near the LCC (Launch Control Center), which was as close as visitors, or the press, could get to the Apollo Launch Pad 39A during a launch. (One thing I’ll never forget, is my astonishment in seeing most of these famous reporters, from everywhere, rapidly pounding out their stories, on their typewriters, –using only two fingers! )

I also remember seeing Walter Cronkite, standing there and smoking his pipe, at a ‘post-launch party’ in Cocoa Beach. I had the job of taking pictures of selected honourees with various NASA Astronauts, and VIPs. ( Johnny Hart, cartoonist and creator of the comic strip “B.C.” had also been invited to the event by IBM, and he drew me a cartoon of his famous snake character ). ( I also remember how beautiful women would cozy up to and flirt with the NASA astronauts there, –just like portrayed in the movie, ‘The Right Stuff.’ )

At another time, I almost literally ‘bumped into’ Walter Cronkite and his wife. I had been taking photos at the Hilton Hotel/Motel in Cape Canaveral. I was walking along the sidewalk in front of the rooms, and all of the sudden out pops Walter Cronkite and his wife. So, I just followed behind them, as the three of us walked through the hotel lobby. –Don Cole, People Watcher.

Where I was when man first walked on the moon

NASA Spacecraft Photographers at work. Donald Cole, on the left; Ken Lee, on the right. Cape Canaveral, Florida, 1960’s.

 

Ref: usaweekend.com, “Where were you when man first walked on the moon?”

Well, as NASA Spacecraft Photographer, I had been assigned, during the countdown to launch, to take photographs inside the Spacecraft, Command Module, of all the panels and switch positions; shortly before the Astronauts entered in. By the time they actually landed on the moon, I was traveling across country on the start of my vacation. I don’t think even my own family believed where I had just came from.

Posted by: Donald Cole, Dover NJ | Jul 12, 2009 7:21:56 PM | Flag as abusive