America's space program has an incredible safety record, with over 100 successful flights since 1961. Unfortunately, in an endeavor as dangerous as space travel, accidents will happen. The United States has lost astronauts in their spacecraft on two occasions. Everyone remembers the explosion of STS-51L, in which seven astronauts and the Orbiter Challenger were lost, but sadly, most do not remember those who went before them.

In 1967, Apollo One stood on the pad at Launch Complex 34, poised to make the first manned flight in Project Apollo's program of missions that would culminate with the first manned landing on the surface of the Moon. Tragically, AS-204 and her crew would never fly that mission.

This page presents their story.