Deke Slayton
1924 – 1993

Deke Slayton

American astronaut (1924–1993)

air force officerautobiographermilitary flight engineertest pilotastronaut
Born
1924-03-01, Sparta
Died
1993-06-13
Birthplace state
Wisconsin

Biography

Donald Kent "Deke" Slayton was born on March 1, 1924, in Sparta, Wisconsin. An Air Force pilot and aeronautical engineer, he served as a test pilot and was selected as one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts. He later became NASA's first chief of the Astronaut Office and director of Flight Crew Operations, where he oversaw crew assignments. He died on June 13, 1993.

Occupation

Deke Slayton is recorded as a air force officer, a autobiographer, a military flight engineer, a test pilot and a astronaut, born in Wisconsin (1924–1993).

Connections to Wisconsin

Deke Slayton was born in Sparta, Wisconsin in 1924. Explore other notable figures from Wisconsin, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

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Everything a full report reveals about Sparta

Deke Slayton came from Sparta. A full Aubrey report on Sparta pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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More notable figures from Wisconsin

Other historical figures born in Wisconsin, ranked by historical prominence.

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Frequently asked about Deke Slayton

Who was Deke Slayton?
Deke Slayton was American astronaut (1924–1993), born in Wisconsin (1924 – 1993).
When and where was Deke Slayton born?
Deke Slayton was born on 1924-03-01 in Sparta.
When did Deke Slayton die?
Deke died on 1993-06-13.
What was Deke Slayton known for?
Deke Slayton is recorded as a air force officer, a autobiographer, a military flight engineer, a test pilot and a astronaut.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

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