Scott Carpenter

Scott Carpenter (May 1, 1925 – October 10, 2013) was an American test pilot, astronaut, and aquanaut. He was one of the original seven astronauts selected for NASA's Project Mercury in April 1959. Carpenter was the second American (after John Glenn) to orbit the Earth and the fourth American in space.

Early life and education

Carpenter was born in Boulder, Colorado, and attended the University of Colorado Boulder, where he studied Aeronautical Engineering.

NASA career

Carpenter was selected as one of the original seven astronauts for Project Mercury in 1959. His spacecraft, the Aurora 7, was launched on May 24, 1962. During the flight, Carpenter orbited the Earth three times.

Post-NASA career

After leaving NASA, Carpenter explored undersea environments as an aquanaut in the Navy's SEALAB program. He also wrote two novels and contributed to the design of the Navy's Mystic class deep-submergence rescue vehicle.

Death

Carpenter died on October 10, 2013, in Denver, Colorado, at the age of 88.

Legacy

Carpenter's contributions to space and undersea exploration have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. He is remembered as a pioneer of early space travel and for his work in promoting the exploration and understanding of the world's oceans.

See also

• List of space travelers by name
• List of astronauts by year of selection