WHO WAS THE FIRST AMERICAN WHO DIED IN SPACE ?

The first American to die in space was Virgil "Gus" Grissom. He was one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts, selected by NASA in 1959 to be the first group of American astronauts. Grissom made history on July 21, 1961, when he became the second American to go to space aboard the Liberty Bell 7 spacecraft.

However, tragedy struck on January 27, 1967, during a pre-launch test for the Apollo 1 mission. Grissom, along with fellow astronauts Ed White and Roger Chaffee, were inside the Apollo 1 spacecraft when a fire broke out in the cockpit. The astronauts were unable to escape the capsule due to various problems, including a faulty hatch, and all three were killed in the accident.

The Apollo 1 tragedy was a significant setback for NASA's human spaceflight program and resulted in major changes to improve astronaut safety, including the redesign of spacecraft and improvements in emergency procedures.

There was no specific mistake made by Gus Grissom that caused the Apollo 1 tragedy. The accident was the result of a combination of technical and design problems, including issues with the spacecraft's wiring and ventilation system, as well as a flammable cabin atmosphere.

Grissom, along with fellow astronauts Ed White and Roger Chaffee, were inside the Apollo 1 spacecraft during a pre-launch test when a fire broke out in the cockpit. The astronauts were unable to escape the capsule due to various problems, including a faulty hatch, and all three were killed in the accident.

The investigation following the accident found numerous flaws in the design and testing procedures of the Apollo spacecraft, and NASA implemented a number of changes to improve astronaut safety. The Apollo 1 tragedy was a tragic reminder of the dangers of space exploration and the importance of safety in human spaceflight.