The space-age materials challenge

Abstract

When three astronauts for the Apollo 1 mission were killed in a flash fire aboard the spacecraft at Cape Kennedy, Fla., on Jan. 27, 1967, the threat of fire, a constant concern to one segment of space-materials scientists, was vividly realized. After the accident, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration moved to eliminate every possible fire hazard on spacecraft. At the same time, the Federal Aviation Administration began to examine comparable fire threats on airliners to see if they, too, could be avoided. NASA succeeded in its efforts, but few of the FAA's good intentions have been put into action.