Apollo 1 disaster

The Apollo 1 disaster happened on January 27th 1967. During a plugs out test, a spark occurred, engulfing the Apollo 1 capsule in flames. It took the lives of three US astronauts, Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee. The cause of death was smoke inhalination, not burning to death. During the accident investigation the two key players were Joe Shea of NASA and Harrison ( Stormy) Storms of North American Aviation. Stormy was later fired after failing to tell that the Velcro must be at least 4.5 square inches away from any ignition sources. Velcro is a highly flamuble object when in a pure Oxygen environment. North American Aviation was critized for the accident, Joe Shea said they were payed to make a capsule that would not explode in a pure Oxygen environment, they failed. The hatch design was also to fault. North American Aviation suggested an explosive hatch, NASA said no, due to explosive hatches firing on thier own, like in the Liberty Bell 7 mission. The explosive hatch fired on its own in the Liberty Bell 7 mission, almost drowning Gus Grissom, fortunately he was able to escape before the capsule reached it's fait of sinking in the ocean. People thought Gus Grissom, blowed the hatch intentionally, They were later proved wrong by one person, he proved the hatch blew on its own. Had there been an explosive hatch on the Apollo 1 capsule, the Apollo 1 crew would have been able to escape. They found a socket wrench near the hatch, it had nothing to do with the fire though. Joe Shea eventually left NASA due to dress.