Mar. 30, 1962 - Maj. Donald K. Slayton’s fellow astronauts have appealed to President Kennedy to reverse the decision disqualifying him from the second United States orbital spaceflight. Nothing apparently came of the plea because the Air Force major (bottom, second from left) is still grounded. But a source close to the astronauts said they were “upset” about the abrupt shelving of Major Slayton because of an intermittent heart flutter. The sequel to Lieut. Col. John H. Glenn Jr.’s orbital flight is scheduled for some time in May. Lieut. Comdr. M. Scott Carpenter of the Navy has replaced Major Slayton as the scheduled pilot. Major Slayton remains on the astronaut team and has been told he will probably be able to make a future orbital flight.
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