January 27

Born around 1540 in Devon, Drake rose from modest beginnings to become a prominent mariner and privateer against Spanish interests. Between 1577 and 1580, he commanded the ship Golden Hind on a daring circumnavigation, claiming new lands for England. Knighted by Queen Elizabeth I upon his return, he amassed great wealth through prize ships and commerce. In 1588, he served as vice admiral in the defeat of the Spanish Armada, bolstering England's naval supremacy. Drake also led expeditions to Central America, searching for gold and challenging Spanish control. He died in 1596 off the coast of Panama, remembered as one of England's greatest maritime heroes.

Captain Roger B. Chaffee, Lieutenant Colonel Gus Grissom, and Lieutenant Colonel Ed White were selected for Apollo 1 to test the command module in January 1967. During a routine ground test, a cabin fire broke out, tragically claiming their lives and marking the first fatal accident of the U.S. space program. Their deaths led to major design overhauls in spacecraft safety, directly contributing to the success of subsequent Apollo missions. The crew's sacrifice is commemorated in numerous memorials and awards within NASA. Their dedication and pioneering spirit embody the risks and rewards of human space exploration. They remain honored as heroes in the history of spaceflight.

Born in 1935 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Roger B. Chaffee earned a degree in naval science and served as a U.S. Navy pilot. Selected as a NASA astronaut in 1963, he worked on Gemini and Apollo mission training and procedures. Chaffee was part of the Apollo 1 crew and tragically lost his life in the spacecraft cabin fire during a launch rehearsal in 1967. He was posthumously awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. Chaffee is memorialized at the Space Mirror Memorial in Florida and by schools named in his honor. His dedication to space exploration continues to inspire future generations of astronauts.

Born in 1926 in Mitchell, Indiana, Virgil 'Gus' Grissom served as a U.S. Air Force pilot and test pilot. He flew the Liberty Bell 7 spacecraft in Mercury-Redstone 4 and commanded the first Gemini mission in 1965. Grissom was selected for the Apollo program and died alongside crewmates in the 1967 Apollo 1 fire during a pre-launch test. He received the Congressional Space Medal of Honor posthumously. Grissom’s pioneering flights and courage helped pave the way for future moon landings. His legacy lives on in awards, scholarships, and institutions bearing his name.

Edward Higgins White II was an American engineer, U.S. Air Force colonel, and NASA astronaut. He made history as the first American to perform a spacewalk during the Gemini 4 mission in 1965. A skilled test pilot and one of NASA's original astronauts, White joined the space agency in 1962. His 36-minute EVA demonstrated crucial techniques for future lunar missions. Selected for the Apollo program, he tragically died in the Apollo 1 cabin fire during a launch rehearsal on January 27, 1967. White's pioneering spirit and bravery paved the way for human exploration beyond Earth's atmosphere. His legacy continues to inspire astronauts and space enthusiasts around the world.