'Isn't That Enough?' Remembering Grissom, White and Chaffee, Fallen Crew of Apollo 1

By Ben Evans, on January 27th, 2019

The Apollo 1 crew consisted of (from left) Command Pilot Virgil “Gus” Grissom, Senior Pilot Ed White and Pilot Roger Chaffee. Photo Credit: NASA

At 6:31 p.m. EST on Friday, 27 January 1967—52 years ago, tonight—as darkness fell over Cape Kennedy in Florida, one of the worst disasters ever to befall America’s space […]

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Remembering John Young, an 'Astronaut's Astronaut', Gone at Age 87

By Ben Evans, on January 6th, 2018

Apollo 16 Commander John Young gazes across the rugged terrain during humanity’s fifth piloted lunar landing. Photo Credit: NASA

John Young, one of only 12 humans to have walked the dusty surface of the Moon, one of only three of mankind’s sons to have traveled twice to lunar distance, the only astronaut to […]

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'Eight Days in a Garbage Can': 50 Years Since Gemini V (Part 1)

By Ben Evans, on August 22nd, 2015

Illustrating the cramped nature of their eight-day home, astronauts Pete Conrad (background) and Gordo Cooper are in jubilant spirits ahead of their 21 August 1965 launch. Photo Credit: NASA

Fifty years ago, this week, astronaut Charles “Pete” Conrad experienced “the longest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life.” Gemini V was […]

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The Misfortune of Al Shepard: 50 Years Since Gemini 3 (Part 1)

By Ben Evans, on March 23rd, 2015

In addition to carrying the equipment of the prime crew, Gemini 3 backups Wally Schirra (third from the right) and Tom Stafford (second from right) saw to it that they fulfilled the mission’s humor requirements. As a result, Gemini 3 would forever come to be known as “The Corned Beef Sandwich Mission.” Photo […]

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Gus Grissom: Remembering NASA's 'Forgotten' Astronaut

By Jason Rhian, on April 3rd, 2013

Image Credit: NASA

NASA has opened a page on the birthday of NASA astronaut Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom celebrating the life of one of the space agency’s first astronauts. Grissom joined NASA in 1959 and flew the second manned mission, MR-4 (Mercury Redstone 4), in the one-man Liberty Bell 7 spacecraft in 1961. […]

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'Forever Young' – A Memoir of ‘The Astronaut’s Astronaut’

By Ben Evans, on December 30th, 2012

In April 1972, John Young became the ninth man to set foot on the Moon. It was an incredible achievement for a man who rose from humble beginnings in Depression-era Cartersville, Ga. Photo Credit: NASA

In the days before his first mission into space, way back in March 1965, John Young was asked […]

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