Ok so let’s say Jim and Fred decided to hold out for Ken and not go on the mission, obviously Jack would have taken Kens spot and John Young would have taken Jim’s spot but who would have taken Freds spot? Charlie Duke wasn’t an option he had the measles, did they have another backup crew on standby?
shareI think it was a bluff by NASA. They knew no matter how loyal to his crew Jim was, this was his last mission and last chance to walk on the moon. He wasn't going to let them cancel it a week before launch. It was either take Jack or the whole thing was off.
shareThe Apollo missions had a primary crew, a backup crew and a support crew. I assume that a member of the support crew would have gotten the call if the NASA brass was satisfied that he was adequately prepared to step in.
It could have been a problem because there was limited access to training equipment, and even the main backup crews for these missions often felt like they didn’t have enough training time.
Ok makes sense, if Jim did agree to go on a later mission it would probably make more sense to just delay the mission entirely .
shareActually Lovell wanted Mattingly on the mission, even if he had the measles. The flight surgeon did not hesitate and bumped him. Lovell had no say in keeping him. This is what was claimed in the book anyway.
shareRight but Mattingly was NOT going on the mission and neither was Charlie Duke. If Fred held out for Ken then there would be no Lunar Module Commander.
shareFred Haise was the LMP, Lovell the CDR and Mattingly the CMP. Swigert was the backup CMP. Swigert was the only person who could replace Mattingly.
Right and Charlie Duke was the only person who could replace Fred Haise but Charlie Duke was declared ineligible because he got the measles. So if Fred decides to hold out for Ken which was one of his options then there couldn't have been a mission. Fred had to be the one to do it.
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