1993day.year
Deke Slayton
(1924 - 1993)
American soldier, pilot, and astronaut
American soldier
pilot
and astronaut
One of NASA's original Mercury Seven astronauts, pilot and space official who helped shape America's early space program.
Donald "Deke" Slayton was born in 1924 in Sparta, Wisconsin. He served as a U.S. Air Force pilot during the Korean War before being selected as one of the first seven NASA astronauts in 1959. Grounded due to a heart condition, he became NASA's Director of Flight Crew Operations, playing a vital role in crew assignments for Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions. In 1975, Slayton finally flew into space aboard the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project, becoming the world's first NASA astronaut to launch after being grounded. His leadership and expertise were instrumental in mission planning and astronaut training. Later, he served as NASA's chief astronaut, overseeing programs and ensuring crew safety. Slayton passed away in 1993, leaving a lasting legacy in human space exploration.
Deke Slayton