Deke Slayton
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. He worked the fields to raise sheep and cows while growing tobacco for income. At age five, he severed his left ring finger clearing a horse-drawn hay mower. This injury initially delayed his medical acceptance into flight training programs. Despite this physical limitation, he joined the U.S. Army Air Forces after high school graduation in 1942. The attack on Pearl Harbor occurred during his senior year of high school. He moved to San Antonio, Texas, to enter the Aviation Cadet Training Program. Flight training took place across Vernon, Texas, and Waco, Texas. He flew various aircraft including the Fairchild PT-19 and the BT-13 Valiant. Slayton graduated from flight training on the 22nd of April 1943. He was assigned to fly the North American B-25 Mitchell bomber. This aircraft choice represented his least preferred option among available planes.
In January 1959, NASA selected Slayton as one of seven candidates for Project Mercury. Psychological and physical testing occurred at the Lovelace Clinic in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Fellow future astronauts Scott Carpenter and Jim Lovell underwent these same evaluations together. On the 2nd of April 1959, officials notified him that he had been chosen as an astronaut. His family relocated from Edwards Air Force Base to housing near Fort Eustis. Neighbors included fellow Mercury Seven members Gus Grissom and Wally Schirra. During centrifuge training in 1959, doctors detected erratic heart activity through electrocardiogram readings. Further evaluation at Brooks Air Force Base diagnosed idiopathic atrial fibrillation. Despite this diagnosis, medical personnel considered him healthy enough to continue flying initially. In early 1962, NASA Administrator James Webb opened an investigation into his condition. Two months before the scheduled launch of Delta 7, Slayton received medical disqualification on the 15th of March 1962. Scott Carpenter replaced him on the mission. Flight doctors recommended cardiac catheterization procedures but management rejected the proposal due to operational risks. NASA leadership determined he remained at risk for atrial fibrillation episodes.
Early 1962 marked Slayton's selection as senior manager of the astronaut office after being grounded from flight status. One of his first responsibilities involved selecting Group 2 astronauts announced in September 1962. He took charge of future crew assignments including assigning Gordon Cooper to Mercury-Atlas 9. An administrative restructuring in October 1963 made him assistant director of Flight Crew Operations. November 1963 saw him resigning from his Air Force commission permanently. He became a civilian executive for NASA while continuing to manage astronaut operations. Alan Shepard temporarily replaced Slayton managing the astronaut office following Ménière's disease grounding. Slayton was promoted to director of Flight Crew Operations in 1966. He created a rotation system where backup crews would become prime crews three missions later. During the Apollo 1 fire incident, Slayton stood inside the Cape Canaveral LC-34 blockhouse. He had considered working under footrests inside capsules to check communications problems. That area later became where the fatal fire began. In April 1967, he called meetings with first-group astronauts announcing lunar landing candidates. He oversaw crew reassignments for upcoming Apollo missions and selected Groups 6 and 7 astronauts.
Slayton took multiple measures attempting restoration to flight status after being grounded. Regular exercise routines helped maintain physical fitness alongside vitamin supplementation. He quit cigarette smoking and coffee consumption while reducing alcoholic beverage intake. Palpitations increased in frequency during 1970 prompting experimental daily doses of quinidine medication. This crystalline alkaloid treatment proved successful initially. Doctors warned that taking medication might still disqualify him from solo flying duties. Against medical advice, Slayton stopped taking the drug despite its effectiveness. A decade passed as he consulted doctors around the world seeking solutions. Examination at the Mayo Clinic in 1971 determined no coronary condition existed after long periods without fibrillation. NASA officially announced his return to flight status on the 13th of March 1972. The announcement came after years of persistent effort and medical uncertainty. His case represented one of the longest groundings before clearance for spaceflight among early astronauts.
February 1973 assigned Slayton to the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project as docking module pilot. Commander Thomas Stafford and command module pilot Vance Brand joined his crew. American astronauts began a two-year training program including Russian language instruction. Trips to the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center occurred within the USSR. Slayton resigned as Director of Flight Crew Operations in February 1974 preparing for upcoming flight. Both spacecraft launched on the 15th of July 1975 into orbit above Earth. On July 17, crews conducted transfers between American and Soviet vessels with cosmonauts Alexei Leonov and Valeri Kubasov. An erroneous switch setting caused nitrogen tetroxide fumes from RCS thrusters during landing procedures. The crew was hospitalized in Honolulu, Hawaii, for two weeks as precautionary measure. A lesion discovered on Slayton's lung during hospitalization proved benign but would have grounded him if found earlier. At age 51, he became the oldest astronaut flying in space at that time. This mission marked the first international human spaceflight cooperation effort between superpowers.
Chris Kraft assigned Slayton to manage Approach and Landing Tests before the Apollo-Soyuz flight. These tests developed procedures for Space Shuttle orbiter Enterprise operations. Several F-104 Starfighters and T-38 Talons modified to train astronauts participated in these programs. He assisted developing the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft throughout this period. ALT program concluded in late 1977 allowing transition to Orbital Flight Tests management. During Group 8 astronaut selection, Slayton advocated for fewer selections expecting two-man crews for satellite deployment missions. Official retirement occurred in 1980 though advisory roles continued for STS-1 missions. He flew a T-38 chase plane during STS-2 landings. the 27th of February 1982 marked his formal departure from NASA after accumulating 7,164 hours of flight time. His contributions spanned multiple decades of aerospace development efforts. The shuttle program represented his final major assignment within government service.
Post-retirement career included presidency of Space Services Inc., a Houston-based company developing small commercial payload rockets. Mission director duties covered Conestoga rocket successfully launched on the 9th of September 1982 as world's first privately funded space vehicle. Aviation racing interests led to International Formula One Pylon Air Racing presidency alongside Columbia Astronautics directorship. Department of Transportation Commercial Space Advisory Committee membership followed these activities. Autobiography Deke!: U.S. Manned Space from Mercury to the Shuttle began work with historian Michael Cassutt in 1991. Published posthumously in 1994, the book detailed his experiences across programs. Moon Shot: The Inside Story of America's Race to the Moon co-authored with Alan Shepard appeared same year. Diagnosed with malignant brain tumor in 1992, he died the 13th of June 1993 at age 69. President Bill Clinton issued condolences stating Slayton met adversity with determination and dedication to never yield dreams. Cremated remains scattered over family farm in Sparta, Wisconsin. Induction into U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame occurred the 11th of May 1990. Multiple awards recognized contributions including Society of Experimental Test Pilots James H. Doolittle Award received in 1972.
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Common questions
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.
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.