98. The Tragedy of Apollo 1
Year: 1967
Location: Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 34, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Company: NASA, North American Aviation (builder)
Estimated Damage Value: $25 billion*
In 1967, Cape Canaveral witnessed a catastrophic event, marking the first crewed mission in the U.S. Apollo Program. The Apollo 1 mission, costing an estimated $25 billion, aimed for the moon but never left the ground, planning a two-week journey.

Tragedy struck during a 1967 rehearsal test. A fire engulfed Apollo 1’s cabin at Cape Kennedy, claiming the lives of astronauts Virgil Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee. Faulty electrical wiring in a pure oxygen environment led to the devastating fire.