When was Donald Kent Slayton born and where did he grow up?
Donald Kent Slayton was born on the 1st of March 1924, on a farm near Leon, Wisconsin. His family home lacked electricity and indoor plumbing during his childhood years.
Questions about Deke Slayton
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Why was Deke Slayton grounded from flight status in 1962?
Doctors diagnosed Deke Slayton with idiopathic atrial fibrillation after detecting erratic heart activity through electrocardiogram readings during centrifuge training. NASA Administrator James Webb opened an investigation into his condition which led to medical disqualification on the 15th of March 1962.
How long did it take for Deke Slayton to return to flight status after being grounded?
NASA officially announced Deke Slayton's return to flight status on the 13th of March 1972 after a decade of persistent effort and medical uncertainty. He took multiple measures including regular exercise routines and vitamin supplementation while consulting doctors around the world.
What mission did Deke Slayton fly as part of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project?
Deke Slayton flew as docking module pilot on the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project spacecraft that launched on the 15th of July 1975. This mission marked the first international human spaceflight cooperation effort between superpowers involving American astronauts Thomas Stafford and Vance Brand.
When did Deke Slayton die and what caused his death?
Donald Kent Slayton died on the 13th of June 1993 at age 69 due to a malignant brain tumor diagnosed in 1992. His cremated remains were scattered over his family farm in Sparta, Wisconsin following his death.