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294 Suppressed Inventions and Other Discoveries
September 9, 1962—The first known fire occurred in the Space Cabin
Simulator at Brooks Air Force Base in a chamber using 100 percent
oxygen at 5 psi. It was explosive and involved the CO 2 scrubber. Both
occupants collapsed from smoke inhalation before being rescued.
November 17, 1962—Another incident using 100 percent oxygen at 5
psi in a chamber at the Navy Laboratory (ACEL). There were four occupants
in the chamber, but the simple replacing of a burned-out light bulb
caused their clothes to catch on fire. They escaped in 40 seconds but
all suffered burns. Two were seriously injured. In addition an asbestos
"safety" blanket caught fire and burned causing one man's hand to catch
fire.
July 1, 1964—This explosion was at an AIResearch facility when they
were testing an Apollo cabin air temperature sensor. No one was
injured. The composition of the atmosphere and pressure isn't listed, but
we have to assume 100 percent oxygen (and possible pressure equal
to atmospheric).
February 16, 1965—This fire killed two occupants at the Navy's
Experimental Diving Unit in Washington, D.C. The oxygen was at 28
percent and the pressure at 55.6 psi. The material in the chamber
apparently supported extremely rapid combustion, driving the pressure
up to 130 psi.
April 13, 1965—Another explosion as AIResearch was testing more
Apollo equipment. Again, neither pressure or atmospheric composition
is given but a polyurethane foam cushion exploded.
April 28, 1966—More Apollo equipment was destroyed as it was being
tested under 100 percent oxygen and 5 psi at the Apollo Environmental
Control System in Torrance, CA.
January 1, 1967—The last known test was over three weeks before
Grissom, Chaffee and White suffered immolation. Two men were handling
16 rabbits in a chamber of 100 percent oxygen at 7.2 psi at Brooks
Air Force Base and all living things died in the inferno. The cause may
have been as simple as a static discharge from the rabbits' fur. . . but
we'll never know.
Of course, NASA's moronic decision to use pure oxygen would play a
crucial part in the deadly fire on Pad 34 a few years later. Never mind that
the test was classified as "non hazardous" by NASA. Only after Grissom,
White and Chaffee died in that fire, would NASA again change the specs
to either 60-40 or 50-50 oxygen/nitrogen mixes at 5 psi, depending on
what source I've read. 11