Feb. 17, 2007                         RELEASE: 07-44

NASA MOVES APOLLO 1 CAPSULE TO NEW STORAGE FACILITY

HAMPTON, Va. - NASA moved the Apollo 1 capsule and related materials 
approximately 90 feet to a newer, environmentally-controlled 
warehouse at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., on 
Saturday, Feb. 17. The move provides better protection for the 
spacecraft.

Despite routine repairs made throughout the years, the original secure 
storage container where the vehicle was housed has been 
deteriorating. NASA officials determined that, due to its age, the 
container could not be maintained effectively to preserve the 
capsule. 

Astronauts Lt. Col. Virgil I. Grissom, Lt. Col. Edward H. White, and 
Roger B. Chaffee died when a flash fire swept through the spacecraft 
during a launch pad test at Cape Canaveral, Fla., on Jan. 27, 1967. 
Originally known as the AS-204 mission, it was renamed Apollo 1 in 
honor of the crew.

As directed by the Apollo 204 Review Board, the capsule has been 
maintained at Langley. The review board's accident report made 
recommendations that led to design and engineering changes and 
increased the overall safety for future Apollo missions and six 
successful lunar landings. 

For more information on the Internet about Apollo 1, visit:

http://history.nasa.gov/Apollo204/ 


J.D. Harrington 
Headquarters, Washington 
202-358-5241

Chris Rink
Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va.
757-864-6786