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JarrodBaniqued OP t1_j54wjpu wrote

Reply to comment by laughingnome2 in Question: Who holds the record for longest time between astronaut selection and first spaceflight? by JarrodBaniqued

I’m looking at his Google results and I see 1975 for the ASTP flight, so 13 years. However, I think Jeanette Epps has him beat, because she was selected in 2009 but will make her first flight next year, leaving a gap of 15 years.

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laughingnome2 t1_j54wukn wrote

Good point. But the resource on another comment says Deke was selected for Mercury in 1959. If that's correct, that puts him at 16 years.

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JarrodBaniqued OP t1_j54xanv wrote

That one was correct. Although someone suggested Wally Funk, and I think she’s the true holder of the record

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CrimsonEnigma t1_j54xiu8 wrote

Thing is, the “Mercury 13” weren’t officially selected for anything.

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JarrodBaniqued OP t1_j54xon3 wrote

Point taken. Slayton probably holds the record for all who went through government agencies and trained for an orbital-class mission.

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TheBroadHorizon t1_j54xnn8 wrote

I wouldn't count her since the Mercury 13 were never selected as astronauts.

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