Picture of the week

Space Launch Complex 34.  The ramp-like structures in the distance are blast deflectors.  It is the site of the successful launch of Apollo 7. Earlier it was the site of the failed Apollo 1 mission that took the life of the astronauts Gus Grissom, Edward White, and Roger Chaffee. This was caused by an electrical fire acclerated by the pure oxygen environment used in the early Apollo program capsule designs. After this, the design was reset and significantly improved, ultimately leading to the later successes in the mission to the moon. In some ways, without the learnings from this earlier mishap, it is not clear the moon program would have succeeded later if an even bigger disaster unfolded due to such designs flaws.

All content and images are property of Stephen Fischer Photography, copyright 2011.   Last updated: 10/16/2011