Fact Sheet
Regor, Dnoces, and Navi
Astronauts Roger Chaffee, Ed White II, and Virgil "Gus" Grissom, who died in a launchpad fire 40 years ago, rehearse for their planned mission aboard Apollo 1. During training, the three named stars for themselves as a joke. One was named Regor ("Roger" spelled backwards,), another Dnoces ("Second," for Ed White), and Navi (for Grissom's middle name, Ivan). After their death, the names stuck, and they are still found in guidebooks and starcharts today. In addition, NASA named three small hills in their honor at the Spirit rover landing site on Mars. [NASA]
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