TLS signed “Donald K. Slayton,” one page, 8 x 10.5, NASA letterhead, August 6, 1962. Letter to Ken Browne, in part: "As you probably know by now, I am not flying the fifth flight either and probably no Mercury flights at all. I still have some hopes of participating in some of the multi-manned shots but am not overly optimistic about this either. Once the doctor starts you downhill, it's very difficult to find one who is willing to reverse the trend against his colleagues." In fine condition, with staple holes to the upper left corner. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope.
In 1959, Slayton underwent an electrocardiogram after training in a centrifuge in preparation for the second Mercury space flight. Medical analysis determined that Slayton had an erratic heart activity and he was later diagnosed with idiopathic atrial fibrillation, although still cleared for flight. In early 1962, an investigation into Slayton's atrial fibrillation was opened, and on March 15, 1962, two months prior to the launch of Slayton's Delta 7 spacecraft, he was medically disqualified from flight and replaced by Scott Carpenter. Grounded by NASA, Slayton was selected in early 1962 to serve as the senior manager of the astronaut office. Slayton would of course get his chance to fly in space as part of the Space Race-ending Apollo-Soyuz Test Project.
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