The Right Stuff - question

[ScarletB]

Watching one of my favorite movies but can someone tell me why Chuck Yeager was not considered for one of the original 7 astronaut spots? Too much of a rebel? Didn't fit the publicity profile?

I know we have lots of pilots and flight enthusiasts so I'm sure someone knows the answer!

[ScarletB]

So 8 people and no one knows?

[Tropic_Al]

Make that 9....

[ScarletB]

Actually it makes me feel good since I'm not the only one who doesn't know!

[SeattleParrotHead]

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Did_Chuck_Yea ... _astronaut
Did Chuck Yeager have the right stuff in order to become an astronaut?
"Yes, but he wasn't interested or eligible to apply for the astronaut program. He wasn't eligible due to not having a college degree and he wasn't interested because the seven Mercury astronauts weren't selected based on their skills as pilots, they were selected based on their ability to withstand what American scientists guessed were the extreme physical conditions that would be encountered during space flight. Because the astronauts wouldn't really be flying the space craft (which was designed to be flown automatically and remotely from Mission Control), Yeager, as America's hottest test pilot, did not want to become "Spam in a can" as he called the astronauts sitting in their capsule."

[ScarletB]

TY, I figured it was something along those lines from what I remembered.
Such a great movie - test pilots are HOT!

[sonofabeach]

I thought this would be about the New Kids On The Block song.
"oh oh ooh ooh ooh...the right stuff"

[ScarletB]

I thought this would be about the New Kids On The Block song.
"oh oh ooh ooh ooh...the right stuff"

No, they were "After" my time!

[Bicycle Bill]

...the seven Mercury astronauts weren't selected based on their skills as pilots, they were selected based on their ability to withstand what American scientists guessed were the extreme physical conditions that would be encountered during space flight.

But they apparently goofed on at least one — Donald 'Deke' Slayton was grounded prior to his scheduled 1962 Mercury flight due to a cardiac condition (atrial fibrillation). No replacement was named, which is why there was only six (rather than the originally-intended seven) manned Project Mercury missions.
He wasn't returned to flight status until 1972, and didn't get to go into space until the Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975.

-"BB"-

[ScarletB]

...the seven Mercury astronauts weren't selected based on their skills as pilots, they were selected based on their ability to withstand what American scientists guessed were the extreme physical conditions that would be encountered during space flight.

But they apparently goofed on at least one — Donald 'Deke' Slayton was grounded prior to his scheduled 1962 Mercury flight due to a cardiac condition (atrial fibrillation). No replacement was named, which is why there was only six (rather than the originally-intended seven) manned Project Mercury missions.
He wasn't returned to flight status until 1972, and didn't get to go into space until the Apollo-Soyuz mission in 1975.

-"BB"-

My first house was on "Slayton Rd" all the streets in the development were named for astronauts.

[ragtopW]

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Did_Chuck_Yea ... _astronaut
Did Chuck Yeager have the right stuff in order to become an astronaut?
"Yes, but he wasn't interested or eligible to apply for the astronaut program. He wasn't eligible due to not having a college degree and he wasn't interested because the seven Mercury astronauts weren't selected based on their skills as pilots, they were selected based on their ability to withstand what American scientists guessed were the extreme physical conditions that would be encountered during space flight. Because the astronauts wouldn't really be flying the space craft (which was designed to be flown automatically and remotely from Mission Control), Yeager, as America's hottest test pilot, did not want to become "Spam in a can" as he called the astronauts sitting in their capsule."

sounds like Chuck

[AlbatrossFlyer]

officially - no college degree. unofficially - he was one of the biggest pains in the ass.

[ragtopW]

officially - no college degree. unofficially - he was one of the biggest pains in the ass.

sounds like Chuck..

[alphabits]

TY, I figured it was something along those lines from what I remembered.
Such a great movie - test pilots are HOT!

Maybe, but there's a saying that goes something like "test pilots do everything faster".

[ScarletB]

TY, I figured it was something along those lines from what I remembered.
Such a great movie - test pilots are HOT!

Maybe, but there's a saying that goes something like "test pilots do everything faster".

Possibly why I lived with a glider pilot for 11 years
Glider pilots stay up longer.....

[AlbatrossFlyer]

TY, I figured it was something along those lines from what I remembered.
Such a great movie - test pilots are HOT!

Maybe, but there's a saying that goes something like "test pilots do everything faster".

Possibly why I lived with a glider pilot for 11 years
Glider pilots stay up longer.....

i have 1200 hrs in a glider and 4 in the shuttle simulator