posted 02-08-2023 10:03 AM            

(His "N+3" rotation rule was never carved in stone and Slayton, from time to time, used to apply a different approach when it was needed. So, if he really wanted to give somebody a chance, he would just do it - like he did it for See.)

White's Gemini assignments never seemed to be focusing on rendezvous - after all, GT-7, even though physically demanding, was relatively a simple flight. Perhaps, when assigning Young to GT-6A, Slayton had already anticipated re-cycling Young to a rendezvous mission. From that point of view, GT-6A backup pilot was more logical starting point to get a docking mission, than GT-7 backup Command Pilot. And, perhaps, when assigning White to GT-7 he already kept in his mind that White will not get rotated to Gemini and will go to Apollo instead. Otherwise, Slayton would have formed GT-6/7 backup crews differently.

posted 02-08-2023 03:03 PM            

Of course, this is a pure guess, but Slayton might have wanted to have Grissom as a backup Command Pilot of GT-6 to have another experienced and highly qualified (and another original Mercury) guy to fly this definite "first" mission in case something happened to Schirra.

(I guess no one doubts that Grissom was quite high in Slayton's rating of the original 13 Gemini astronauts.)

By the way, this was the only flown Gemini crew that got re-assigned to a backup function without any change (thus, making one of Group 3 guys unhappy for not getting this assignment.)

However, after GT-6 was flown, the docking missions became a sort of "routine" and were considered as a mean to get more "pre-selected" people to get hands-on experience in docking. I think, when assigning the last Gemini crews, Slayton for sure was thinking of using the very same people for future Apollo CSM/LM test flights and first landings.

So, the only "uncertainty" I see is See. As Slayton himself described it, he became "sentimental" and gave See a command (as he thought he needed someone stronger to do the EVAs of GT-8 and onward.) But what would be See's future after GT-9 (and backing up GT-12) is uncertain. I strongly doubt Slayton would assign him as a commander of Apollo; I think he would either move See to AAP, or would make him a CMP. But, all this would depend on how well GT-9 was flown, of course.

posted 02-08-2023 04:03 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by carmelo:
In yours opinion in which areas were weaker White (computers, navigation, EVAs, rendezvous)?

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posted 02-08-2023 04:08 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Michael Cassutt:
The complete picture died with Slayton and Shepard.

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