On Thu, 27 Nov 2003 19:12:26 GMT, "Dan Todd"
wrote:

I read this bald statement, featuring no causality, in a picture caption in
a slick, soft-cover book done in 1994 for the 25th anniversary of the first
lunar landing.

Might anyone know "how it works"? I know that Armstrong backed up Apollo 8
as Commander; does his advocating Gemini 13 set up the situation by which he
obtained that seat?

While others here can certainly speak with more authority on this
topic than I, the short answer is no. The long and short of it is
that Armstrong was Borman's backup, Conrad was McDivitt's. When
Borman and McDivitt switched flights, so did their backups which
effectively put Armstrong in the left seat on 11 rather than Conrad.

And if you look at the early Apollo flights all of them, with the
exception of Apollo 7 commanded by Wally Schirra, were commanded by
astronauts selected in the second group known as the New Nine [Borman
on 8, McDivitt on 9, Stafford on 10, Armstrong on 11, Conrad on 12,
and Lovell on 13]. In fact, all the Apollo commanders with the
exception of Shephard had commanded Gemini flights which I think may
have given them the nod for a command in Apollo.

Others can jump in and correct or amend where I'm wrong, but I think
that's a fair assessment.

By the way, found this group by a search regarding this question. Great
group, great discussions. Thanks much!

Welcome aboard.

Eddie V.