File:Gus_Grissom_photo_portrait_head_and_shoulders.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
Gus Grissom
Sign in to saveAlso known as Virgil Ivan "Gus" Grissom, Virgil Ivan Grissom, Virgil I. Grissom
American astronaut (1926–1967)
Gus Grissom was an American astronaut who lived from 1926 to 1967 and played an important role in the early space program during the Cold War era. He is historically significant as a pioneering figure in human spaceflight, though the specific details of his contributions and legacy would require additional context to fully explain.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Film & TV
Mitchell, IN
Virgil Ivan "Gus" Grissom was an American engineer and pilot in the United States Air Force, as well as one of the original Mercury Seven selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for Project Mercury, a program to train and launch astronauts into outer space. Wikipedia
Known for
- Apollo 1: Destination Moon — Self (archive footage)2025
- Apollo: The Forgotten Films — Self (archive footage)2019
- Apollo: Missions to the Moon — elf - Apollo Astronaut (archive footage)2019
- Space Men — Self (archive footage)2016
- Conquering Space: The Moon and Beyond — Self - NASA Astronaut (archive footage)2005
- Project Gemini: Bridge to the Moon — Self2003
- American Experience — Self (archive footage)1988
via TMDB
Key facts
- Born
- Virgil Ivan Grissom , ( 1926-04-03 ) April 3, 1926, Mitchell, Indiana , U.S.
- Died
- January 27, 1967 (1967-01-27) (aged 40), Cape Kennedy , Florida, U.S.
- Resting place
- Arlington National Cemetery
- Education
- Purdue University ( BS ), Air University ( BS )
- Spouse
- Betty Lavonne Moore ( married</span>"}]]}'>m. 1945 )
- Awards
- Distinguished Flying Cross Congressional Space Medal of Honor NASA Distinguished Service Medal
- Rank
- Lieutenant Colonel , USAF
- Time in space
- 5h 7m
- Selection
- NASA Group 1 (1959)
- Missions
- Mercury-Redstone 4 Gemini 3 Apollo 1
via Wikipedia infobox
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- human
- Part of
- Mercury Seven
- Given name
- Gus
- Gender
- male
- Citizenship
- United States
- Place of birth
- Mitchell
- Place of death
- Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 34
- Occupation
- writer
- Employer
- NASA
- Languages spoken
- English language
- Conflict
- Korean War
- Military branch
- United States Air Force
- Military rank
- lieutenant colonel
- Image
- VirgilGrissom.NASA.ws.jpg
- Significant event
- sub-orbital spaceflight
Show 11 more facts
- Commons category
- Gus Grissom
- cause of death
- smoke inhalation injury
- date of birth
- 1926-04-03
- date of death
- 1967-01-27
- P450
- Gemini 3
- place of burial
- Arlington National Cemetery
- manner of death
- accidental death
- Commons gallery
- Virgil Ivan Grissom
- time in space
- 307
- member of
- NASA
- member of the crew of
- Apollo 1
Sources (7)
via Wikidata · CC0
~37 min read
Encyclopedic overview
Virgil Ivan "Gus" Grissom (April 3, 1926 – January 27, 1967) was an American astronaut, and one of the original Mercury Seven selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for Project Mercury, a program to train and launch astronauts into outer space. Grissom went on to be a Project Gemini and Apollo program astronaut for NASA. As a member of the NASA Astronaut Corps, Grissom was the second American to fly in space in 1961. He was also the second American to fly in space twice, preceded only by Joe Walker with his sub-orbital X-15 flights.
Grissom was a World War II and Korean War veteran, mechanical engineer, and United States Air Force test pilot. He was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with an oak leaf cluster, two NASA Distinguished Service Medals, and, posthumously, the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Gus Grissom” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.