Hundreds honor the three Apollo 1 astronauts who were killed when their spacecraft caught fire on the launchpad 50 years ago
By Associated PressPUBLISHED: 15:14 EST, 26 January 2017 | UPDATED: 18:58 EST, 26 January 2017
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4161298/Hundreds-honor-3-astronauts-lost-Apollo-fire-50-years-ago.htmlA remembrance event was held for the three astronauts killed on Apollo 1. Their relatives Sheryl Chaffee, Lowell Grissom and Bonnie Baer are pictured at Thursday's service
Three astronauts on board Apollo 1 were killed when they got trapped in a blaze, from left, Edward H. White II, Virgil I. 'Gus' Grissom, and Roger B. ChaffeePart of the Apollo 1 exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center. A fire during a test on the launch pad killed three astronauts at the start of the Apollo moon programMoonwalkers and dozens of others who took part in NASA's storied Apollo program paid tribute Thursday to the three astronauts killed in a fire 50 years ago.
On the eve of the Apollo 1 anniversary, hundreds gathered at Kennedy Space Center to honor Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee.
They died during a countdown rehearsal at the launch pad inside their burning spacecraft on January 1967
On Friday, NASA is opening an Apollo 1 exhibit featuring the hatch that prevented the three astronauts from escaping.
It has been concealed for the past half-century along with the capsule.
The families of Grissom, White and Chaffee got an early look Wednesday evening at the display at the visitor complex, and liked what they saw.
'Really awesome,' said daughter Sheryl Chaffee, who just retired from NASA. 'It's very fitting. We all feel like it's about time.'
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