Editing Roger B. Chaffee (section)

==Early life==
Roger Bruce Chaffee was born on February 15, 1935, in [[Grand Rapids, Michigan]],<ref name="astronautsmemorial" /> the second child of Donald Lynn Chaffee (1910–1998) and Blanche May (Mike) Chaffee ({{née|Mosher}}; 1912–1996).{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2008|p=136}} He had an older sister, Donna, born two years earlier.{{sfn|Chrysler|Chaffee|1968|p=17}} In January 1935, in their hometown of [[Greenville, Michigan]], his father was diagnosed with [[scarlet fever]], so his mother moved in with her parents in Grand Rapids, where Roger was born. The family spent the next seven years in Greenville before moving to Grand Rapids, where his father took a job as the chief [[United States Army Ordnance Corps|Army Ordnance]] inspector at the Doehler-Jarvis plant.<ref name="history.nasa.gov" /> Chaffee's interest in aerospace was sparked at a young age when his father, a former [[barnstorming]] pilot, took him on his first flight at the age of seven. Chaffee was thrilled by the flight and soon after started building model airplanes with his father.{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2008|pp=135–136}}

===Boy Scouts===
Chaffee excelled as a [[Scouts BSA (Boy Scouts of America)|Boy Scout]], earning his first [[Merit badge (Boy Scouts of America)|merit badge]] at the age of thirteen. He earned ten more badges that year. Many of these awards were typically earned by the older scouts.{{sfn|Chrysler|Chaffee|1968|pp=32–33}} He continued his success by earning four more badges at the age of fourteen.{{sfn|Chrysler|Chaffee|1968|p=33}} He earned four badges for each of the next two years, almost all the badges available at the time. After becoming an [[Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)|Eagle Scout]], he managed to earn another ten merit badges, for which he was awarded the bronze and gold palms.{{sfn|Chrysler|Chaffee|1968|p=33}} Between his camping trips with his family and his involvement with the Boy Scouts, Chaffee developed a passion for the outdoors.{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2008|pp=136–137}}

===Education===
Chaffee attended the Dickinson School in Grand Rapids,{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2008|p=136}} and later graduated from [[Central High School (Grand Rapids, Michigan)|Central High School]] in the top 20% of his class in 1953.{{sfn|Chrysler|Chaffee|1968|p=43}} Turning down a possible appointment to the [[United States Naval Academy]] at [[Annapolis, Maryland]], he accepted a [[Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps]] (NROTC) scholarship, and in September 1953 enrolled at the [[Illinois Institute of Technology]]. He performed well, making the [[Dean's List]] and finishing with a B+ average. While enrolled, he joined [[Phi Kappa Sigma]].<ref name="history.nasa.gov">{{cite web|url=https://history.nasa.gov/Apollo204/zorn/chaffee.htm|title=Detailed Biographies of Apollo I Crew – Roger Chaffee|last=White|first=Mary|publisher=NASA|access-date=June 3, 2016|date=August 4, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604142258/https://history.nasa.gov/Apollo204/zorn/chaffee.htm|archive-date=June 4, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

Chaffee was passionate about flying, and had a strong aptitude for science and engineering. To apply those talents, he transferred to [[Purdue University]] in the autumn of 1954 to attend the school's well-known [[aeronautical engineering]] program.<ref name="history.nasa.gov" /> Before arriving in [[West Lafayette, Indiana|West Lafayette]], he reported for an 8-week tour on {{USS|Wisconsin|BB-64|6}} as a part of the NROTC program. To qualify, he had to finish training and pass further tests. He initially failed the eye exam, but the physician permitted him to retake it the next morning, and he passed. He was then allowed to tour on ''Wisconsin'' to [[England]], [[Scotland]], [[France]], and [[Cuba]]. Upon his return to American soil, he worked as a gear cutter.<ref name="history.nasa.gov" />

After starting classes at Purdue, Chaffee sought out a job to complement his coursework and involvement in the Phi Kappa Sigma social fraternity. His first job during his sophomore year was working as a server at one of the women's residences, but he disliked the job and sought new employment. He was hired as a [[draftsman]] at a small business near Purdue. As a [[Junior (education year)|junior]], he was hired as a teaching assistant in the Mathematics Department to teach classes to [[freshman]] students.<ref name="history.nasa.gov" /> He was elected to the [[Tau Beta Pi]] national engineering honor society which is equivalent to [[Phi Beta Kappa]] in the non-engineering disciplines,  and [[Sigma Gamma Tau]] engineering honor societies.<ref name="chaffee space">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/chaffee_roger_0.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/chaffee_roger_0.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |title=Biographical Data: Roger B. Chaffee (Lieutenant Commander, USN) NASA Astronaut (Deceased)|date= December 1997|publisher=NASA |access-date=January 11, 2021}}</ref>
In 1955, Chaffee took four flying lessons, but he did not have enough money to get his [[private pilot's license]]. Two years later, the NROTC sponsored flight training for him to become a [[naval aviator]]. He soloed on March 29, 1957, and obtained his private pilot's license on May 24, 1957.{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2008|pp=138–139}} He earned a [[Bachelor of Science]] degree, with distinction, in aeronautical engineering at Purdue in 1957.{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2008|p=140}}

===Family===
Chaffee met his future wife Martha Louise Horn on a double-blind date in September 1955. They started dating, and he proposed to her on October 12, 1956. They married in [[Oklahoma City]], Martha's hometown, on August 24, 1957.{{sfn|Burgess|Doolan|Vis|2008|pp=138–139}} Martha was a homemaker.{{sfn|Chrysler|Chaffee|1968|p=67}} The couple had two children, Sheryl Lyn (born in 1958) and Stephen (born in 1961).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceacts.com/STARSHIP/seh/chaffee.htm|title=Biographical Data|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307172656/http://spaceacts.com/starship/seh/chaffee.htm|archive-date=March 7, 2016|url-status=dead|publisher=Space Acts|access-date=October 3, 2016}}</ref>