Embedded Files
Deke Slayton's Edwards Flight Test Papers
Deke Slayton's Edwards Flight Test Papers
Acquired from Don Willis-Lunar Legacies
Acquired from Don Willis-Lunar Legacies
Date Acquired 15th September 2019
Date Acquired 15th September 2019
Collection # TSM 29
Collection # TSM 29
These are a set of handwritten notes made by Deke Slayton during his time as a test pilot at Edwards Air Force base. This was prior to him being selected as one of the Original 7. These were the very first astronauts selected by NASA for the upcoming Mercury flight program. He did not get a flight in the Mercury program as he was grounded with a medical problem that meant he lost his flight status. It was around this time that NASA decided that the astronauts needed a “leader”. Deke was uniquely placed to take on this role, and he became head of the astronaut office and one of his first tasks was to oversee the selection of the second intake of new astronauts. His other main role was mission crew assignments, so in essence it was he who got to choose who flew in space. The final decision was rubber stamped by upper NASA management, and it was only very rarely that his choices were rejected. After many years he managed to tame his irregular heartbeat through the use of vitamins and was returned to flight status 10 years after he had been disqualified. He was assigned to a flight, the Apollo Soyuz Test Program in 1973, and two years later he realised his dream with a flight in space lasting nine days
These are a set of handwritten notes made by Deke Slayton during his time as a test pilot at Edwards Air Force base. This was prior to him being selected as one of the Original 7. These were the very first astronauts selected by NASA for the upcoming Mercury flight program. He did not get a flight in the Mercury program as he was grounded with a medical problem that meant he lost his flight status. It was around this time that NASA decided that the astronauts needed a “leader”. Deke was uniquely placed to take on this role, and he became head of the astronaut office and one of his first tasks was to oversee the selection of the second intake of new astronauts. His other main role was mission crew assignments, so in essence it was he who got to choose who flew in space. The final decision was rubber stamped by upper NASA management, and it was only very rarely that his choices were rejected. After many years he managed to tame his irregular heartbeat through the use of vitamins and was returned to flight status 10 years after he had been disqualified. He was assigned to a flight, the Apollo Soyuz Test Program in 1973, and two years later he realised his dream with a flight in space lasting nine days
Certificate of Authenticity supplied with the papers
Certificate of Authenticity supplied with the papers
Special orders assigning Captain Slayton to Germany & Austria in the March of 1954
Special orders assigning Captain Slayton to Germany & Austria in the March of 1954
A letter confirming the date Deke was promoted to Rank of Second Lieutenant
A letter confirming the date Deke was promoted to Rank of Second Lieutenant
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