Gus Grissom facts for kids

Virgil I. Grissom
Virgil I. Grissom
NASA astronaut
Nationality	American
Status	Deceased
Born	April 3, 1926; Mitchell, Indiana, U.S.
Died	January 27, 1967 (aged 40); Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S.
Other occupation	Test pilot
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel, USAF
Time in space	5 hours, 7 minutes
Selection	Group 1 (1959)
Missions	Mercury-Redstone 4, Gemini 3, Apollo 1
Mission insignia

Virgil Ivan "Gus" Grissom (April 3, 1926 – January 27, 1967) was an American test pilot and astronaut. He was one of the original seven astronauts selected for NASA's Project Mercury in April 1959.

On July 21, 1961, Grissom flew into space in the Liberty Bell 7 spacecraft. This was powered by a Redstone rocket. Grissom was the second American in space, following Alan Shepard.

He made another space flight as command pilot (pilot in charge) of Gemini 3. This was the first trip by astronauts in NASA's Project Gemini. The trip took place on March 23, 1965.

Grissom died along with fellow astronauts Ed White and Roger Chaffee during a test for the Apollo 1 mission at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (then known as Cape Kennedy), Florida. He was the first of the Mercury Seven to die.

Images for kids

USAF F-86F, similar to the aircraft Grissom flew in Korea
The Project Mercury astronauts with a model of an Atlas rocket, July 12, 1962 - Grissom is at the far left.
Grissom in front of the Liberty Bell 7 spacecraft
Apollo 1 crew, Grissom, White, and Chaffee
Grissom's Project Mercury spacesuit on display at the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame
Gus Grissom in his Air Force uniform
Gus Grissom in his Mercury spacesuit
Grissom's name with Roger Chaffee's and Ed White's on the Space Mirror Memorial
One of two Apollo 1 memorial plaques at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 34
Launch Complex 34 Plaque