Disturbing Details Found In Gus Grissom's Autopsy Report

Posted by Zora Stowers on Saturday, May 18, 2024

According to the review board's official report, the hatches of the Command Module were opened at 6:36 p.m., and there were no signs of life. Physicians inspected the bodies at the scene and determined that resuscitation efforts would be futile, but the exact time of death couldn't be determined. Based on the autopsy and investigation of the spacecraft, it was concluded that Grissom and his two companions fell unconscious due to the gasses inside the cabin and that "death occurred rapidly." Multiple factors — carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, oxygen, and irritant levels — caused the rapid death. The lack of oxygen in the heart and brain resulted in the loss of consciousness and led to cardiac arrest.

The report also noted that the spacesuits of all three astronauts were burnt "to some degree" and wouldn't have protected their bodies from a fire of that magnitude. Grissom also suffered burns on 60% of his body, and soot was found in his trachea, oral cavity, and nose. His official cause of death was noted as "asphyxia due to inhalation of toxic gases due to fire."

Memorial services were held in honor of the three astronauts. Grissom is buried at the Arlington National Cemetery, and NASA awarded him the Congressional Space Medal of Honor posthumously.

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