Deke Slayton, American soldier, pilot, and astronaut (born 1924)

Deke Slayton

American astronaut (1924–1993)

Donald Kent "Deke" Slayton was an American Air Force pilot, aeronautical engineer, test pilot, and one of the original NASA Mercury Seven astronauts. He went on to become NASA's first Chief of the Astronaut Office and Director of Flight Crew Operations, responsible for NASA crew…