NASA Carpenter Replaces Slayton Press Release 1962

8/14/2019 NASA Carpenter Replaces Slayton Press Release 1962

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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION TELS WO 2-4155)NEWS WASHINGTON,D.C. 20546 WO 3-695FOR RELEASE: March 15, 1962

RELEASE NO. 62-66A

CARPENTER REPLACES SLAYTON AS MA-7 PILOT

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration saidtoday a heart condition will prevent Astronaut Donald K.Slayton from piloting the Mercury-Atlas 7 spacecraft.Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, backup pilot to John H.Glenn, Jr. for his recent MA-6 flight, has been selectedas prime pilot for the MA-7 mission. Carpenter's backuppilot will be Astronaut Walter M. Schirra.Doctors described Slayton's difficulty as an "erraticheart rate." In medical terms, it is described as idiopathicatrial fibrillation.The condition was detected in November, 1959. At thattime it was decided Slayton, an Air Force major on loan toNASA, should continue in the program and the conditionshould be monitored closely. An Air Force medical board,meeting today to review the case, advised NASA that Slaytonshould not attempt the MA-7 mission. A board of civilianCardiologists confirmed the condition.On learning of the board's decision, Slayton said hewas extremely disappointed. "To realize that I will notbe piloting MA-7 -- well, I'm very disappointed to say theleast," Slayton daid.The civilian cardiologists were Dr. Proctor Harvey,professor of cardiology, Georgetown University; Dr. ThomasMattingly, heart specialist, Washington Hospital Center,and Dr. Eugene Braunwall, a cardiology researcher, NationalInstitutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.Carpenter and Schirra are Navy pilots who, like Slaytonand the other astronauts, Joined NASA in April, 1959.Carpenter is a lieutenant commander; Schirra, a commander.

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N EWS R E LEAS ENATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION400 MARYLAND AVENUE, SW, WASHINGTON 25, D.C.TELEPHONES WORTH 2-4155-WORTH 3 -1110FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

12:15 p.m., 16 March 1062RELEASE NO. 62-67

NEWS MEDIA CONFERENCEPILOT CHANGE IN MERCURY-ATLAS NO. 712:15 p.m., Friday, 16 March 1962

PARTICIPANTS:(2 LT. COL. JOHN A. POWERS, Public Affairs Officer, NASA Manned

Spacecraft Center.ASTRONAUT DONALD K. SLAYTON.DR. HUGH L. DRYDEN, Deputy Director, NASA.DR. C. H. ROADMAN, Director, Aerospace Medicine, Office of

Manned Space Flight, NASA.


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2htl POWERS: We apologize for being some fifteen minutes

late. Our colleagues in the radio and television equipmentindustry are having trouble with their equipment.

We regret that we have come up with short noticethis morning. I don't think there is any need to introducethe principals who are here on the platform.

As you all know, a decision was reached yesterdaywith regard-to Major Don Slayton's role as pilot of the nextmanned orbital flight. Since that time there has been a greatdeal of interest from all members of the news media, and sowe are attempting to respond to that interest and give youan opportunity to see that this fellow is not sickened tobed any place, but is live, hale and healthy, and to perhapsanswer some of the questions that are on your mind.

I think that states it fairly enough, does it not,Dr. Dryden?

DRYDEN: I think so.I might make one or two statements. First, the only

decision that has been made is that Deke will not take thenext mission in the NA-7. There are no decisions made tocontinue him for the future until there has been opportunityfor further examinations of this little defect that he has.

All of us have similar things wrong with our bodies,I think. We want to understand more about the relationshipand significance of this to future flights.

Deke will continue in the program. He has a veryimportant part to play in the next mission. We hope to gethim back to work cawrying on that part of the mission.

I thin-. hat this perhaps is all the additionalstatement that is needed at this time. We are ready toiespond to questions.

Dr. Roadman, from the Headquarters Office of MannedSpace Flight, is here with us.

POWERS: Mr. Simmons?QUESTION: I would like to know the circumstances

under which the defect was initially discovered, and why there


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32bh was a delay to make a decision until this time in the progtam.DRYDEN: The defect was first discovered in 1959.

At that time we had assurance from the medical people thatthis would not interfere with the mission. Thero has been nodistinct change in this condition so far as I know. But inthe continuing review by those who have the responsibility forthe mission it was decided wiser to make the change and tocontinue to take a little more time to assess the significanceof this condition in relation to the stresses of orbitalflight.

QUESTION: I wonder if Dr. Roadman could give usthe wedical term. What is this condition? What are you talk-ing about when you say he has an erratic heart condition, sowe will know what we are talking about?

ROADMAN: I presume,Deke, it is all right for meto tell them the diagnosis? The reason I mention that pointis from a professional point of view these things are andshould be handled in a professional sense.

With Deke's permission: This is a diagnosis ofparoxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Paroxysmal, in simplest terms, is that it happensat indeterminate times. It is not continuously present,intermittent, are other words we might use to describe it.

Atrium: The atrial portion of the heart is oneof the upper valve portions of the heart, the other portionbeing the pumping part, the ventricle. The atrium is moreor less of a filling type receptable for blood coming intothe heart, going out. The fibrillation might be describedin other terms as flutter or that type of increased movement.

Another significant thing is the heart in itsnormal rhythm, so to speak, has an impulse mechanism whichacts upon'the atrial portion of the heart and also on theventricle. When these do not operate, let's say, in normalsequence and input, you will develop an increased beat, ifI may use that term, in the atrium. This is atrial fibrilla-tion.

QUESTION: Doctor, is this the same as idiopathic?


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3htROADMAN: Idiopathic should be included in these

terminologies as described. Idiopathic in the broad senseis used when we say "Cause unknown."

QUESTION: As distinguished from atrial fibrilla-,tion that can result from some pre-existing medical condition;is that correct, sir?

ROADMAN: That is right. In other words, you canassess a definitive and well-diagnosed cause for thiscondition. Then you would delete the term idiopathic.

QUESTION: What are the causes of non-idiopathicfibrillation?

ROADVAN: You can have a situation such asthyrotoxicosis where you have, say, too much thyroid secretionwhich can cause this. Again there are marked individual varia-tions. This is what makes medicine sporty, the individualvariations in all of us.

Febrile diseases, in which high fever and/or specificknown diseases have been known to cause this condition in somepatients. These are generally the causes. And of course yourdiseases of arteriosclerosis can produce, in some patients,this type of condition.

When you can determine these specific causes forthis thing, you obviously associate the particular entitywith this type of heart action and you can find no cause forit at all. It is idiopathic.

QUESTION: It there was no distinct change inSlayton's condition, why was be first selected and then theassignment changed? 7DRYDHN>/ A reassessment by people up the 1 e as

to the significance of this in relation to the strlAsses oforbital flight. IQUESTION: Was there something as a result ofGlenn's flight that you learned?DRYDEN: No.


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4ht 5QUESTION: Dr. Roadman, how prevalent is this in

the general population?ROADMAN: How what?QUESTION: How prevalent would this condition be inthe general population?ROADMAN: I can't answer that specifically. I would

say this is certainly a relatively well-known clinical condition.In other words, it is not a rare or unknown entity.

The cardiac arrhythmias -- using the term arrhythmia in termsof different heart beats, different timings of the contractionsof the heart -- a well-known clinical entity.POWERS: Mr. Finney?QUESTION: A three-part question on the method followed

in reaching this decision. One, was the Astronaut's personalphysician consulted? Two, why was an Air Force board broughtin? And third, was the medical opinion unanimous that he(K) should not take this flight?

DRYDEN: Deke is an Air Force officer. When thismatter was first brought up, quite properly I think the AirForce wished to assume the Jurisdiction as to his medical'condition.

I can only repeat from firsthand what I know first-hand. Secretary Zuckert called me first yesterday afternoonand said that a board of civilian consultants had recom-mended unanimously that he not make this flight at this time.

QUESTION: There are two other parts to thequestion. One was, was Douglas consulted, and three, wasthe medical opinion unanimous?

POWERS: Dr. Douglas was consulted because he wasinvolved in the processing and was familiar with the process.

ROADMAN: I would like to highlight that. Dr. Douglashas been in constant touch with Deke, as you know, as well asthe other Astronauts, in constant daily association as aflight surgeon to these Astronauts.


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ht5 6Dr. Douglas, obviously his professional observa-

tion and care is of the first magnitude in this particularproblem.

DRYDEN: I wish Dr. Douglas were here so he couldspeak for himself on this matter. He has been with theAstronauts from the beginning. In 1959, when this conditionwas discovered, he felt and I believe still feels that thisis not a condition which necessarily prevents Deke frommaking orbital flights.

QUESTION: He is here, isn't he?DRYDEN: Do you want to speak for yourself,

Dr. Douglas?DOUGLAS: He was qualified to go.DRYDEN: We are entering, as you can sce, the question

of medical opinion about a condition whose significance is notinterpreted the same way by everyone.QUESTION: How was it picked up? How was the fibrillb-

tion picked up, and is there any indication that the stress intraining was the cause?

SLAYTON: As to the first part, the first time Iwas aware of it was in our first centrifuge program at Johns-ville, which was also the first time I had had EKG leadson in quite some time, other than in physical exams. Whenthe EKG leads were applied it was apparent I had this condi-tion. /

QUESTION: This was before --SLAYTON: This was before I ever got on the wheel,

before I ever got on the vehicle. :t was not as a result ofbeing on the wheel. Of course, I have been conscious of itat various times since that point. Up to that point I wasnot aware of it.

QUESTION: Are you aware of it physiologically?Can you feel it, on the onset of this?

SLAYTON: Sometimes, yes.

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QUESTION: What was the question?POWERS: The question was whether you were physio-

logically personally aware of it.SLAYTON: To amplify it, it does not affect my

performance in any way. I can do everything with it thatI can without it, in terms of stress exercise and so forth.QUESTION: How do you feel it?SLAYTON: Mostly in my pulse. I couldn't tell you

whether I had it right now or not unless I took my pulse.QUESTION: How do you detect it?SLAYTON: The best way I can tell you is by feeling

the pulse. It is irregular at the times I do have it.DRYDEN: Let's make it clear, Deke is ready to go,

as far as I am concerned.QUESTION: Is this the first time that the Air

Force panel has gotten into this? In other words, it isstill confusing to us why we went this far and then had areassessment now which apparently differs from priorreassessments if we had them. Is it a conflict betweenan Air Force panel thinking he shouldn't, and Dr. Douglasthinking he should or can? This is still confusing.

DRYDEN: The question was first raised withinthe management echelons of NASA as to what is the realsignificance of this condition in relation to the stressesof orbital flight. You may recall, there are a number ofnew people within NASA at the present time who are carry-ing the responsibility for the program. The general feel-ing was that this condition should be re-evaluated.

As I have explained, the Air Force was consulted,and since Deke is an Air Force officer they assumed theresponsibility for this examination.

QUESTION: Would this affect jet flight? Otherflying?

POWERS: The question is would it affect other' flying? Is that correct?


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8ht7QUESTION: Yes, jet flying.ROADMAN: I can answer that from a medical standpoint.

In Dr. Douglas' opinion, and in mine, and shared by others,again with an opportunity to express opinion, the answer isabsolutely not.

QUESTION: Is there an active examination orprogram now to determine the cause of this?And two, does this rule out future flights?Did the Air Force board rule out future flights?DRYDEN: I will answer that. I tried to make it

clear at the beginning that this deals only with this par-ticular flight. There will be further examinations andstudy of this condition.


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9cl QUESTION: John, could you tell us what Deke's

role will be in MA-7?POWERS: I don't think we are real firm. Are you

going to be at CapCom?SLAYTON: I don't know specifically. I can tell

you what it will be for approximately the next month, andthat is trying to bring Scott Carpenter up to date as muchas possible on the capsule, which I am most familiar

with,and help him out in any way I can. Anything that I can.helphim on, I will.

QUESTION: In getting the capsule ready, Deke?

SLAYTON: That is right. We were further alongwith that already, of course.

QUESTION: You said, Deke, that this conditionhas not affected, I think you said, your performance inany way?

SLAYTON: This is correct.QUESTION: What do you mean by performance?

Exercise and what else?SLAYTON: This is correct. As far as my physical

performance, absolutely no effect.QUESTION: I would like to ask, if you are going

to re-evaluate this condition under the stress of spaceflight, how do you intend to do this?DRYDEN: This is a medical task that I can't

answer. I don't know whether Dr. Roadman can or not.

ROADMAN: As a matter of fact, this is a verygood question. It leads to our discussions with Deke. We,to meet his desires, will continue in a major way to accessDeke's condition under stress, and specifically we are veryinterested in waiting for Deke to fibrillate and then puttingDeke in under these stress tests as they now exist, withsome others that we have been thinking about, subject himto performance tasks while he is fibrillating.

Obviously, we cannot simulate on the ground theactual space environment. But this is one of the considera-tions I am sure are in some people's minds. As we get


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10c2 more experience in more space flights, I Am sure that we will

come to many conclusions that it is not nearly as stressfulas many people now currently hold to that view.

QUESTION: This was part of my view. This, inother words, has not been observed under any other testsor training during the training program. It has not occurred?

ROADMAN: That is correct.SLAYTON: It is not a function of the stress. Iwant to make that perfectly clear. No matter what stressI have ever been under, it has had absolutely no bearing onit.QUESTION: It could have occurred. If it occurrednormally, it might have occurred, but it hasn't,SLAYTON: If it had; it would have made no difference.ROADMAN: In other words, we are not able to

precipitate this under stress.DRYDEN: May I say as a layman I think all ofyou know from the results from the various space flights thatwe have not been able to devise a ground test which produces

exactly the same stress. In other words, the heart rates inactual flight have always been somewhat higher than thosein simulator flights or in centrifuge runs.

QUESTION: Dr. Dryden, you indicated that thedecision was made on a re-evaluation of current data on spaceflight but that it did not come from Col. Glenn's flight.Where did this re-evaluation come from?

DRYDEN: I think it was the facing up to theresponsibilities of the people within the organization asto the consequences of a possible failure during the flight;with such a condition known, and its feeling that we do notat this moment know enough about the significance of thecondition to proceed with confidence.

POWERS: Mr. von Friend?QUESTION: I have two questions, the first for

Dr. Roadman. We know that in 1960, I think it was, GordonCooper had some gallstone trouble and now we know of Deke'strouble. Do any of the other astronauts have any minor


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c3defects of any sort which might possibly interfere with theirflight at sone later time that you know of now?

ROADMAN: No.QUESTION: A question for Deke. Were you aware

during the past few weeks that this thing might interferewith your flight? Or was this a sudden announcement?

SLAYTON: I was not aware of it. This is correct.QUESTION: Was there an evaluation made just prior

to Deke's being named as the next orbital pilot?DRYDEN: No. Deke was chosen for this tn good

faith on the basis of the assurances that we had felt thatthis was not a condition that would lead to difficulty. Dekewas told as soon as the question was raised as to possibleadditional examination and study of this question. It hasall been very recent, however.

POWERS: Mr. Simmons?QUESTION: Dr. Dryden, you say that Deke was

chosen for this on the basis of assurances that this wouldnot lead to difficulty. What were these assurances? Whomade them? Was there a board, an Air Force board in 1959?

DRYDEN: No. I am talking about the feelingthat Dr. Douglas has expressed and still expresses today.No question had been raised from the point of view of theoperating people. Doke was the one most ready and highlyqualified to make this flight. As I have tried to explainwithout going into every Jim and Joe who contributed tothis, there was a consideration by the people who areresponsible for the success of the mission as to the possiblesignificance of this in relation to the stresses of orbitalflight. It was felt that possibly some additional medicalexamination and consultation should be held. It has allgone very quickly, and, as a matter of fact, much morequickly than I had expected that it would be done.

ROADNAN: I might add to your comment, to be ashelpful as I can, and I now am expressing my opinion, Ithink you should all understand, again I repeat, individualvariations makes medicine quite sporty, and then again thereare many factors in which individual medical judgment and/oropinion are evaluated.


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Those of us in Aerospace Medicine have, I think,a unique position in evaluating as best we can in ourjudgment medical conditions in which you could say this isa clinical medical condition, and by our experience, bothin the air and flying and aviation medicine, if I may usethat term, are in a position to look at this in sort of anindustrial sense in terms of the total environment of thetotal problem.

By contrast -- and you must understand that inthe average or normal clinical practice of medicine --oftentimes there are rather wide divergent opinions. Aperson who sees patients in the normal clinical practiceis confronted with a different set of circumstances often-times by contrast to those of us who are dealing with thepilot population and in flying. In trying to evaluate aclinical condition, you have to arrive and oftentimes arriveat good, honest differences of opinion as to the relativerisks attached to this, assessing the medical point ofview and looking at what you are trying to accomplish.

DRYDEN: This is a lot of words to say thatdoctors in clinics usually are looking at sick people.Aeromedical people are looking at those who are morenearly healthy.

ROADMAN: That is correct.QUESTION: How long do these occur; how long do

they last; and when was the most recent one tha.t you had?SLAYTON: I normally don't pay that much atten-

tion to it. I did at the time I first became aware of it.QUESTION: Was that in 1959?SLAYTON: Yes, I think it was 1959. I kept

fairly close track of it for a while, and when it becameapparent it wasn't making any difference whether I had itor not, as far as what I did, I stopped paying attentionto it.

In general, as close as I can remember from thenumbers that I have, an average of once every two weeks,approximately, I may have it for a couple of days.

QUESTION: And the most recent one, sir?


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13c5 SLAYTON: I would say maybe about two weeks ago,approximately.

QUESTION: Do you still have it?SLAYTON: Oh, negative.QUESTION: If they last for two weeks -SLAYTON: Negative. Negative. They last some-times a day or two days. I can get .rfd of them by goingout and running two or three miles.QUESTION: Dr. Roadman, is this related to what

is commonly known as athletic heart?ROADMAN: No.QUESTION: Not at all?ROADMAN: No.QUESTION: Since it was first discovered,

obviously you have been in the centrifuge. Have you beenflying jets and breaking sound barriers over the Cape andso on?

SLAYTON: No. No, never. I have been flyingcontinually. I have been doing everything else that any-body else in the program has been doing.

QUESTION: Is there any Air Force regulationwhich would ground you?SLAYTON: Not that I am aware of.QUESTION: Could you tell us how many Ge did

you take on the centrifuge -- peak Gs?SLAYTON: Somewhere around 14 or 15.QUESTION: Dr. Dryden, if the designated back-up pilot does not replace the prime pilot in such an in-

stance, why do we have a designated back-up pilot?DRYDEN: This was the back-up pilot. If you

recall, Carpenter was the back-up to Glenn. We felt that


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in this instance it was quicker and easier to make use ofthat back-up experience rather than the much more limitedexperience that Schirra has had to date.

QUESTION: Dr. Dryden, you mentioned somethingabout new people having come into the space program.

DRYDEN: Since 1959, when this condition wasfirst observed. As far as I know, it has not been broughtto the attention of Headquarters people until very recentlysince that date.

POWERS: We have to break at 12:45.

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Mr. Simmo~%

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htl 15.s QUESTION: I would like to ask Deke or Dr. Drydenabout future possibilities. Would Deke get a chance to go onlater Mercury flights, or will he wait until the two-manGemini program?

DRYDEN: I think what I have said is that all thathas been decided to date is that he will not fly on the MA-7mission. Now perhaps two months from now, when we get throughthese additional tests and so on; we can tell you what thefuture would be.

POWERS: Mr. Finney?QUESTION: Dr. Dryden, would I take it from yourcomments that the initiative to re-examine this physicalsituation came from NASA headquarters?DRYDEN: That is correct.QUESTION: You say, Dr. Dryden, it was not broughtto the attention of headquarters people since that date untiljust recently?

(- DRYDEN' That is correct. It became known to thepeople in charge of the program at this time rather recently.QUESTION: Major Slayton, we kind of dissected you.Can you tell us how you felt about this when you were told,where you were when.you were told, and your impressions andreactions?QUESTION: And when you were told?SLAYTON: As Dr. Dryden said, when this thing cameup fo r re-evaluation two or three days ago, I was told Iwas being re-evaluated. I came up here yesterday to meetthe latest board of cardiologists and I was told immediatelyafter they had made their decision. Of course my feelings,I think, are very obvious. I am damned disappointed. TLt'sface it.DRYDEN: I think we all share these feelings. Itis with great regret that this has happened this way to asfine a fellow as I know.QUESTION: I have a two-part question. At whichtime during space flight is the pilot usJer the most stress,


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16and two, could this possibly be an asset to the program,that you are able to observe this and find out more thanyou would if the Astronaut did not have this defect?

SLAYTON: That is a very interesting approach. Iwould like to carry that one farther.

POWERS: Dr. Roadman, do you recall when theheaviest stresses were?

ROADMAN: Would you state that again?QUESTION: During any space flight, at what timeduring the flight is greatest stress put on the heart?

Under the G forces or when? While you are under heavy gravi-tational force or when?

ROADMAN: I think that is a rather hard one toanswer.

SIAYTON: I think I have the best answer to thatone. I think the most stress on the heart is at the pressconference after the flight.

QUESTION: I asked during the flight.ROADMAN: It is awfully difficult to answer purelymedical. I know that John has stated to me, in reviewing

his flight -- and I think he stated to the rest of thesepeople -- that the Intervening days after the flight weremuch more stressful than his experience in flight.

QUESTION: You mean you couldn't get it from themedical records?ROADVAN: Yes, you get an indication as far aspulse rates are concerned, but it is awfully difficult toevaluate, for example, whether acceleration on boost orre-entry is really more stressful.POWERS: The pulse rate is not necessarily a measure

of stress?ROADMAN: No.DRYDEN: We gather, of course, from the centrifuge

sixulator test that th3re is a difference between that condition


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173h4and flight condition. Many people think it is related toemotion. You could think of various emotional circumstances,I think, when the heart rate beats faster than normal.

QUESTION: Two questions. First, for Major Slayton.Have you had any kind of a formal waiver from the

Air Force to continue your jet flying with the knowledge ofthis condition?SLAYTON: I am under the control of NASA at thepresent time and have been for the past three years fo; thepurposes of the mission. Within this context I have beengranted a waiver to fly both aircraft and space vehiclesobviously, or I wouldn't have been selected for this par-ticular shot. JWhat action the Air Force has to take, and if any isrequired, I would have to ask Dr. Roadman to comment on.ROADMAN: I would have no further comment, I amon board with NASA as well. I think the Air Force would haveto answer that.POWERS: The point here is that he has not beensuspended from flying status. I think we ought to make thatpoint clear.QUESTION: The other part of the question is fo rDr. Roadman. Is this kind of a minor defect likely to

occur with other members of this program as they approachtheir 40's or past their 40's and the program goes on?ROADMAN: It would be impossible to say precisely.One's opinion would be that it would not.QUESTION: Dr. Roadman, what would be consequentialfrom what we now know of the defect if the Astronaut weretraveling around in space, if this were a consideration?In other words, what spells the difference?ROADMAN: There is this possibility: In other words,if you consider fibrillation as an abnormality in rhythm andtiming, knowing that the heart in its action, in order to bemost efficient has to have a cycling rhythm and a timing orthe gearing mechanism must be in normal cycle, in the clinical


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18t sense some patients have been evaluated in fibrillation --again I am not referring to Deke -- in some clinical conditionsduring atrial fibrillation, then the ventricular rate has been

influenced and changed.This change in the ventricular rate and cycling, so

to speak, of the heart, can in some cases result in reducedefficiency in circulation as far as the pumping action ofthe heart. /

POWERS: Thank you very much, gentlemen.(Thereupon, at 12:48 p.m., the press conference/was concluded.) /

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NASA Carpenter Replaces Slayton Press Release 1962