The grissom family moved to the home on baker street, now grissom avenue, in 1926 when gus was about a year old. The incident prompted many changes in the apollo program. Apr 03, 2016 today is the anniversary of the birth of virgil ivan gus grissom, one of the original nasa project mercury astronauts. Virgil gus grissom is launched in liberty bell 7, but does not achieve orbit. Brother of virgil grissom visits boyhood home in indiana. The museum was dedicated in july 1971, ten years after gus s first flight, and four years after his death. Were an independent nonprofit that provides parents with indepth school quality information. Virgil ivan gus grissom april 3, 1926 january 27, 1967, lt col, usaf, was one of the original nasa project mercury astronauts, a united states air force. Dennis and cecile lived in the home until their deaths in the mid1990s. He was the second american to fly in space, and the first member of the nasa astronaut corps to fly in space twice grissom was killed along with fellow astronauts ed white and roger chaffee. Air force officer virgil gus grissom was one of the national atmospheric and space administrations nasa original crew of seven astronaut trainees. The 5thcentury ce author and statesman macrobius maintained virgil was born of country parents among the shrubs and woods. Gus grissom memorial museum spring mill state park recorded in hd spring mill state park tuesday, september, 2016 editing printmaster.
Virgil ivan grissom was born at mitchell, indiana, the second of five children of dennis david grissom, an electrician, and cecile king grissom. Grissom memorial at spring mill state park the virgil i. Gus grissom attended mitchell high school, graduating in 1944. Motivated by a strong interest in technology and aircraft construction, he completed one year of precadet training in the u. Alan shepard, virgil gus grissom, john glenn, scott carpenter, wally schirra.
Sep 21, 2016 evans media hd presents a marc evans film virgil i. Lieutenant colonel virgil ivan gus grissom had been part of the u. Jun 12, 2017 virgil, sometimes spelled vergil, was born on october 15, 70 bce in andes, a small village near mantua north of the po river in cisalpine gaul. Signatures should be signed quickly with no hesitation. This flight lasted 15 minutes and 37 seconds, attained an altitude of 118 statute miles, and traveled 302 miles downrange from the launch pad at cape kennedy. Virgil gus ivan grissom 19261967 became the second american to travel into space when the national atmospheric and space administration nasa launched the liberty bell 7 on july 21, 1961. Remembering apollo 1 gus grissom, ed white, roger chaffee on. He was one of the original seven astronauts selected for nasas project mercury in april 1959. Grissom was convinced that man stood on the threshold of great, future adventures in space. Sep 21, 20 read cnn s fast facts to learn more about space accidents. Gus grissom simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. He was the second child of dennis david grissom, a railroad man for the baltimore and ohio railroad, and cecile king grissom, a housewife.
Gus grissom national aeronautics and space administration wiki. The capsule nickname policy was rescinded by nasa during the gemini program, during which mission managers. My dads greatgrandfather, toliver grissom, was born april 12, 1821, the son of william grissom and eva jane evey rhodes, the grandson of charles and margrett grissom. Gus grissom, one of the original mercury seven astronauts and first astronaut to fly into space twice, whose life was tragically caught short by a fire during a prelaunch test of the apollo 1 command module.
Chaffee were killed, becoming the first casualties of the u. Virgil ivan gus grissom april 3, 1926 january 27, 1967 was an american test pilot and astronaut. Gus grissom, one of americas original mercury seven astronauts, flew the second u. He was a project gemini and an apollo program astronaut. Before he was named apollo 1 commander, virgil gus grissom was a one of the original mercury seven astronauts chosen in 1959.
Gus grissom s mercury capsule sinks in an ocean landing after an explosion blows the escape hatch off prematurely. The spacecraft problems were corrected, and the apollo program carried. As a member of the nasa astronaut corps, grissom was the. During a program test, an apollo capsule caught fire on the launch pad, taking the lives of astronauts roger b.
Grissom elementary school 1 sims avenue old bridge, nj 08857 732 3604481 fax. Virgil gus grissom was a nasa astronaut who flew twice in space and was. Gus was selected as an astronaut after flying over a hundred combat missions in korea. The first spacerelated fatality happened in 1960 when a rocket exploded in kazakhstan, killing 165 people. Read cnn s fast facts to learn more about space accidents. Virgil grissom high school located in huntsville, alabama al. Chaffee, was killed in a fire while testing their capsule on the pad on 27 january 1967, still weeks away from launch. Nasa apollo missions this timeline will also provide the students a foundation nasa. Toliver grissom died november 25, 1888 and is buried in long cemetery in van buren county, tennessee. Virgil ivan gus grissom april 3, 1926 january 27, 1967 was a united states air force usaf pilot and a member of the mercury seven selected by national aeronautics and space administrations nasa as project mercury astronauts to be the first americans in outer space. With the help of the gi bill, grissom attended purdue university, where he received a bs in mechanical engineering in 1950. He was also a project gemini and an apollo program astronaut.
Grissom explained that he had gotten ahead in the mission timeline and had. Grissom memorial is intended to interest visitors of all ages in the successes and sacrifices of the early stages in americas space program. Dennis grissom worked for the baltimore and ohio railroad and the family, gus, his two brothers norman and lowell, and his sister wilma lived comfortably in a white frame house. The view, not particularly breathtaking, was blocked by metal and wire in.
Aug 19, 2019 in the history of nasas space flights, virgil i. Gus grissom elementary school was operated by the department of defense dependents schools at the former clark air base, philippines. He had four siblings, including an older sister who passed on before his introduction to the world. The grave marker of virgil gus grissom from apollo 1 is seen after a wreath laying ceremony that was part of nasas day of remembrance on the 30th anniversary of the challenger accident, thursday, january 28, 2016, at arlington national cemetery in arlington, va. If any flyer ever possessed that unshakeable faith in ones own infallibility that thing called the right stuff it was virgil i. Grissom funeral apollo 1 tragedy pictures cbs news. Grissom middle school was founded in tinley park, illinois, in 1975. Grissom was one of the seven mercury astronauts selected by nasa in april 1959. Nasa virgil ivan grissom 1944 gold and blue 3 april 1926. Virgil gus grissom was born on 3 april 1926, in mitchell, indiana. Air force pilot who became one of the first american astronauts. He was a united states air force pilot was the second american to fly in space, and the first member of the nasa astronaut corps to fly in space twice. Virgil ivan gus grissom april 3, 1926 january 27, 1967 was a united states air force. There was a passion almost of love of mechanical objects in the sky.
He became the first american from nasas astronaut corps to fly in space twice see the fact file below for more information on the gus grissom or alternatively, you can download our 19page gus grissom worksheet. Grissom middle school 35701 ryan road sterling heights, mi 48310. He flew in space as command pilot of mercuryredstone 4 1961. Lieutenant colonel virgil ivan gus grissom was an american astronaut, mechanical architect, and united states aircraft tester who was a member of nasas mercury venture. In this time, his signature remained relatively unchanged, but his habits did evolve before his death. Grissom, virgil ivan gus encyclopedia astronautica. This flight lasted 15 minutes and 37seconds, attained an altitude of 118 statute miles, and traveled 302 miles downrange from the launch pad at cape. Grissom explained that he had gotten ahead in the mission timeline and had removed. Following high school, he served in the army air corps from 1944 to 1945. Virgil gus grissom gus grissom piloted the liberty bell 7 spacecraft the second and. John glenn, alan shepard, gus grissom and others embraced a clear and perilous mission. The designation as204 was used by nasa for the flight at the time. Gus grissom was born on april 3, 1926 in mitchell, indiana. On july 21st, 1961, grissom reached a suborbital altitude of about 118 miles above the earths surface in a 15 minute flight, before making his descent in the mercury capsule, which he dubbed the liberty.
Grissom worked as a latenight telephone operator for indiana bell while her husband studied mechanical engineering at purdue university. Virgil ivan gus grissom, fodd 3 april 1926 i mitchell i indiana, dod 27 januari 1967 vid cape canaveral air force station i florida, var en amerikansk astronaut. Boomhower, author and historian from indiana the subject. Seven astronauts are selected for the mercury program. Lieutenant colonel virgil ivan gus grissom april 3, 1926 january. Jun, 2016 the grissom family moved to the home on baker street, now grissom avenue, in 1926 when gus was about a year old. Virgil ivan gus grissom april 3, 1926 january 27, 1967 was a u. Grissom middle school is committed to educating and making a difference in the lives of our students. Died january 27, 1967 in the apollo 204 fire at cape kennedy. On july 21, 1961, he piloted the liberty bell 7 spacecraft on the second and final suborbital mercury test flight.
Lieutenant colonel virgil ivan gus grissom april 3, 1926 january 27, 1967 was one of the original nasa project mercury astronauts, a united states air force test pilot and a mechanical engineer. The grissom community will model respectful and responsible behaviors in a safe environment where all can achieve educational growth. Gus grissom was born on april 3, 1926 in mitchell, indiana, the oldest of four children. Gus grissom signed autographs for approximately seven years before his untimely death on january 27, 1967. He was a member of the hiy club, the camera club, and the signal club. Wreaths were laid in memory of those men and women who lost their lives in the.