139. [Apollo 1] SPACE HEROES: emblematic portrait of the ill-fated first Apollo astronauts NASA, 1 April 1966 Printed 1966. Vintage chromogenic print on fibre-based Kodak paper [NASA image S-66-30236]. Numbered "NASA S-66-30236" in red in the top margin, with NASA caption and "A KODAK PAPER" watermark on the reverse (issued by NASA Manned Spacecraft Centre, Houston, Texas). 20.3 x 25.4 cm. (8 x 10 in.) Historical context This poignant portrait stands as both a tribute to the astronaut corps' bravery and a solemn reminder of the risks involved in space exploration. Edward White, Gus Grissom, and Roger Chaffee (left to right) proudly pose with a model of their Apollo Command Module as the first crew selected for the Apollo program, Apollo 1 (originally designated AS-204). Dressed in NASA flight suits, with the American and NASA flags behind them, the trio exudes optimism and confidence, symbolic of their pioneering role in Apollo. Just 11 months later, they tragically perished in a cabin fire during a routine ground test of the Command Module, marking a turning point for NASA. Their sacrifice catalysed essential design and safety improvements that helped make the Moon landings possible just a few years later. "If we die, we want people to accept it. We're in a risky business, and we hope that if anything happens to us, it will not delay the program. The conquest of space is worth the risk of life." —Gus Grissom (from Gemini: A Personal Account of Man's Venture into Space, published posthumously in 1968 by his widow, Betty Grissom)