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Author
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Topic: Apollo 14: 'Performance issues' with LM pilot?
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Captain Apollo
Member Posts: 365
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 07-16-2024 04:00 AM
   
This tribute to Joe Engle contains the following, which perplexed me: In August 1969, he was named backup Lunar Module Pilot (LMP) on Apollo 14, planned for January 1971. But when performance issues arose with the prime LMP, consideration was briefly given to giving the position to Engle. However, Engle was less knowledgeable on the LM’s quirky systems and the prime LMP kept his seat on the mission. What issues with Ed Mitchell? I thought he was acknowledged as one of the very best on the LM and that was why Alan Shepard chose him? |
Henry Heatherbank
Member Posts: 326
From: Adelaide, South Australia
Registered: Apr 2005
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posted 07-16-2024 06:17 AM
Without knowing the answer to the question, how ironic (and also unfortunate) that someone who nearly benefitted from a single crew member swap-out would become the victim of one. |
Delta7
Member Posts: 1761
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 07-16-2024 07:48 AM
Deke Slayton had issues with Ed Mitchell. From what I've read they stemmed from Mitchell's determination to do ESP experiments during the flight which Slayton considered inappropriate. He also wanted Mitchell to serve as backup LMP for Apollo 16, but Mitchell relented since he planned on leaving NASA after Apollo 14. I think it was Gene Cernan who described how Slayton said he was getting fed up with Mitchell and was "this close" to replacing Mitchell while holding his thumb and forefinger a half inch apart. Cernan said Deke asked him if he thought Engle could be ready to fly by the launch date. Slayton eventually wound up giving Mitchell an ultimatum, that flying on Apollo 14 and backing up Apollo 16 was a package deal, and if Ed couldn't accept that he had others that would. I think the issue was more with Mitchell's attitude rather than his performance, unless there was something else going on I've never heard or read about. |
Captain Apollo
Member Posts: 365
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 07-16-2024 09:55 AM
I thought the ESP stuff was secret until after the mission though? Shepard was surprised by it, so odd that Deke (best pal) knew about it and that it was an issue for him? |
Delta7
Member Posts: 1761
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 07-16-2024 10:21 AM
I remember reading that Slayton and others were aware of the planned ESP experiment beforehand , thought it was rather flakey, and not in line with the image NASA wanted to project. And that Deke had made his opinion known to Mitchell. Deke was upset that Mitchell seemed determined to go ahead with it anyway. |
Blackarrow
Member Posts: 3727
From: Belfast, United Kingdom
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 07-16-2024 12:01 PM
And of course he did go ahead with it. But he also backed up Charlie Duke on Apollo 16. |
Delta7
Member Posts: 1761
From: Bluffton IN USA
Registered: Oct 2007
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posted 07-16-2024 04:11 PM
By all indications Mitchell was highly regarded as an astronaut. Shepard supposedly said he wanted Mitchell as his LMP “because I want to make it back home.” |
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