Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee, pose in front of launch pad 34

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Three American astronauts died when fire swept the Saturn rocket on its launch pad at Cape Kennedy.

The space crew, flight commander Gus Grissom, Edward White and Roger Chaffee, were taking part in a rehearsal for the launch of the first Apollo mission.

It is thought an electrical spark started the fire which spread quickly in the oxygen-filled atmosphere of the capsule, killing the crew within seconds.

Navy Lieutenant Commander Chaffee, aged 31, had never flown in space before. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Grissom, 39, was the first American to make two flights. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel White, 35, made America's first space walk.

It is feared the disaster on launch pad 34 could delay America's plans to put a man on the moon by as much as a year.

The three men were in the command module, mounted on the rocket as if ready for launch, but the Saturn was not loaded with fuel.

At 1831 hours one of the astronauts was heard to say, "Fire, I smell fire."

Two seconds later, another astronaut, probably Lt Col White said, "Fire in the cockpit."

The fire spread through the cabin rapidly. The last communication from the crew was heard just 17 seconds later.

The pressurised atmosphere inside the capsule meant the astronauts would not have had time to open the hatch.

Under ideal conditions, the process takes about 90 seconds. It involves venting the cabin to relieve the interior pressure which helps hold the door closed.

It took technicians on the outside about five minutes after the fire had started to open the hatch.

There will be a full investigation into what caused the fire, but already questions are being asked about whether safety corners were cut in the race to be first to the moon.

The astronauts knew there were risks involved. Lt Col Grissom became the second American in space in the Liberty Bell 7. On splashdown, the space capsule filled with water and sank and he almost drowned.

A few weeks before the launch pad tragedy, he wrote: "There will be risks, as there are in any experimental programme, and sooner or later, we're going to run head-on into the law of averages and lose somebody.

"I hope this never happens, and... perhaps it never will, but if it does, I hope the American people won't think it's too high a price to pay for our space programme."

The Apollo mission's maiden flight was due to blast off into space on 21 February.

Michael Jackson suffered serious burns to his scalp in the freak accident

The 25-year-old entertainer was singing his hit "Billie Jean" for a Pepsi Cola commercial in Los Angeles when the special effects went wrong.

Three thousand fans saw a firework display erupt behind the superstar, showering him in sparks and setting light to his hair.

Some studio audience members said he was so calm, they thought the incident was part of the act.

The singer is reported to have covered his burning hair with his jacket as his brothers and stage hands rushed to help.

One member of the audience, Virginia Watson, witnessed the accident.

"He was wonderful. He reassured people even as he was being taken away on astretcher", she said.

Michael Jackson was taken to hospital where he was treated for second degree burns.

Plastic surgeon Steven Hoeffin said Jackson, who was voted America's entertainer of the year, could need surgery to his head.

"He is in discomfort", said the doctor. "It will take a few weeks to determine the hair loss."

The superstar is earning a reputed ?m for the series of Pepsi Cola adverts which also feature his four famous brothers. It is part of a huge sponsorship deal the singer agreed last year.

The multimillionaire's album "Thriller" has just entered the Guinness book of records as the best selling LP of all time.

stretcher: a litter for transporting people who are ill or wounded or dead（担架）