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The Excess Eleven

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The astronaut group known as the “Original Seven” appears to be well known in the scope of history. Maybe a few even know of the “New Nine," the second group of astronauts selected, but the “Excess Eleven”? In 1967, after pressure from the scientific community, NASA began the search for a second group of scientist-astronaut candidates who were not required to be pilots (previously, all candidates had to have flight experience). This group was not destined for the moon, but focused toward a distant project called the Apollo Applications program. Most in NASA agreed that these new astronauts were not needed in the Apollo days. There were only going to be 12 manned Apollo missions at the most (there was actually 10), and the seats on those flights were for the most part filled. So then, fellow astronauts and officials alike asked “What are these new astronauts with no flying skills, who will not be assigned to a mission for several years for?”

The answer was a complicated one. In 1967, the astronaut office, headed by Deke Slayton, was concerned that with the need for prime crews, back up crews, and support crews for Apollo that the 45 astronauts it already had wouldn’t be enough. Slayton also had to contend, and be prepared for, whatever project would be funded after Apollo (it ended up being Skylab). If you then account for death, retirement or leaving the astronaut program for other positions there was the possibility of not having enough astronauts. This was the reasoning behind accepting another group of astronauts. Also, in 1967 there would be enough pilots for missions, but NASA was under real pressure to send full-fledged scientists into space during Apollo and then onto the science centered Skylab. However, for these missions the Excess Eleven would have to wait in line; the very first scientist astronaut group selected in 1965 would receive prime crew slots in Apollo and Skylab (this group consisted of 6 men) before them. One of them, Harrison “Jack” Schmidt would walk on the moon on Apollo 17. Others, Garriott, Kerwin and Gibson would earn a flight to Skylab. During Apollo it appeared that the Excess Eleven were going to have to wait a long time for a spaceflight. Perhaps, in an attempt to keep their sense of humor, they nicknamed themselves, “XS-11” or Excess Eleven. Officially they were known as Flight F, or the 5th astronaut group.

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