Gregory Jarvis Says That Space Mission Assignment is "Luck," and He Has Been Assigned to the Challenger

c. 1985

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Gregory Jarvis Says That Space Mission Assignment is "Luck," and He Has Been Assigned to the Challenger
Typed Letter Signed
1 page | SMC 1509

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      Background

      Explaining that “being assigned to any mission is relatively tentative and re-assignment is just the luck of the draw,” Jarvis tells his correspondent that after being bumped, he has been assigned “the shuttle mission scheduled for January (51-L)” – the Challenger flight on January 28, 1986. The luck that day was all bad – and the Space Shuttle, on which Jarvis was a payload specialist, exploded 73 seconds after launching. All crew members were lost.
      Typed Letter Signed, 1 page, quarto, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Houston, Texas, no date, circa 1985. To Erik.
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      NASA

      National Aeronautics and 

      Space Administration

      Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
      Houston, Texas 
      77058

      Reply to Attn of:


      Dear Erik:

      Thank you for a most interesting letter and concern over my being replaced again on the shuttle mission.  As you may know, I am an engineer with the Hughes Aircraft Company, and my main task on the shuttle is that of payload specialist.  Being assigned to any mission is relatively tentative and re-assignment is just the luck of the draw.  I have been assigned to the shuttle mission scheduled for January (51-L) and plan to conduct experiments in fluid dynamics for future satellite development.  Hopefully I won't get re-assigned again. Enclosed are your two autographed space covers and the photo you requested.  Thanks again for your interest.

      Sincerely,

      GREG JARVIS