Deke Slayton

Deke Slayton was an American astronaut and a key figure in NASA's Mercury and Apollo programs. Originally selected to fly in space, he was grounded for medical reasons but remained vital as a flight director and manager. Later, he was cleared to fly and became the first NASA astronaut to fly twice, contributing significantly to human space exploration. His leadership and expertise helped guide early manned space missions, making him a respected pioneer in space history.