Gus Grissom

Grissom, Gus (1926–67), U.S. astronaut. He was the second American to be launched into space (July 21, 1961) and the first American to make 2 space flights. In Mar. 1965 Grissom and John W. Young piloted the first 2-man orbital flight. He was scheduled to head the first 3-man flight, but a fire broke out during a launch pad test at Cape Canaveral on Jan. 27, 1967, killing Grissom and astronauts Edward White and Roger Chaffee.

See also: Astronaut.