Question

Why was he bumped up to Apollo 13?

Option 1: He displayed exceptional piloting skills during training.
Option 2: He had a strong background in astrophysics and was needed for specific experiments.
Option 3: A scheduling conflict led to his assignment to Apollo 13.
Option 4: He was the original choice for the mission, but a medical issue delayed his participation.

Answer 1

The astronaut's move to Apollo 13 likely resulted from unforeseen circumstances like a medical issue or a scheduling conflict rather than for exceptional piloting skills or specific scientific expertise.

Step-by-step explanation:

The astronaut being discussed in relation to being bumped up to the Apollo 13 mission is not specified in your question nor in the reference material provided. However, based on the historical context of the Apollo missions, it is more likely that an astronaut would be moved up in the mission order due to unforeseen circumstances such as medical issues or scheduling conflicts rather than for exceptional skills or specific scientific expertise—those would have been accounted for much earlier in the planning process.

For example, Ken Mattingly was originally scheduled to fly on Apollo 13, but he was exposed to German measles shortly before the mission and was replaced by Jack Swigert just three days before the launch to avoid the risk of him falling ill during the flight. In contrast, the reference material mentions that for the final Apollo landing, geologist Jack Schmitt was included for his scientific expertise—this would have been a planned decision made well in advance.