Slayton, Donald K., 1924-1993

Person

Staff Only

Dates

Existence: 1924 March 1 - 1993 June 13

Biographical Note: Deke Slayton

Donald Kent "Deke" Slayton was a pilot for the United States Air Force, an aeronautical engineer, test pilot and then astronaut, who was selected as one of NASA's original Mercury Seven astronauts. He was born in Sparta, Wisconsin on March 1, 1924. During World War II, he joined the United States Army Air Force. Following the end of the war he attended the University of Minnesota and received his Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering in 1949. He later joined the United States Air Force where he was a pilot. His experience led him to be selected as one of the astronauts for the Mercury Program. He later became NASA's first Chief of the Astronaut Office and Director of Flight Crew Operations, responsible for NASA crew assignments. Slayton passed away on June 13, 1993 in League City, Texas.

Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:

Terry Hammonds Percheron and Conestoga Collection

Collection

Identifier: 2012-06-26

Abstract

Terry Hammonds (born 1941) was a reporter who followed Space Services, Inc. (SSI) and wrote articles, as well as took photographs, about SSI's Percheron and Conestoga projects. The collection is comprised of audiovisual materials, including photographs, slides, negatives, and two (2) audiocassettes, as well as a small amount of textual materials relating to Space Services, Inc. and the 1981-1984 Percheron and Conestoga rocket programs.

Dates: 1981-1984

Found in: The Museum of Flight Archives

Russian Transpolar Flight Collection

Collection

Identifier: 2012-12-23

Abstract

The Russian Transpolar Flight Collection primarily documents the June 1937 transpolar flight by Russian aviators Valery Chkalov, Georgii Baidukov, and V. Belydakov with photographs, clippings, audio-visual materials, and various textual materials. It also features a small amount of material about the July 1937 transpolar flight by Russian aviators M. Gromov, Sergei Danilin, and Andrei Yumashev, as well as general Russia-related research materials.

Dates: 1937-2012