M. Scott Carpenter
Scott Carpenter was one of NASA’s first seven astronauts (the Mercury Seven) and the second American to orbit the Earth.
Quick Facts
Scott Carpenter was selected in NASA’s first astronaut class in 1959.
Carpenter flew on just one space flight: Mercury-Atlas 7 (Aurora 7).
In addition to being an astronaut, Carpenter was also an aquanaut. In 1965, he spent 28 days living on the ocean floor as part of SEALAB II.
Biography
M. Scott Carpenter
Selected by NASA in 1959, Carpenter was one of the Mercury Seven, the first 7 astronauts in America’s space program. A dynamic pioneer of modern exploration, Carpenter has the unique distinction of being the first human ever to acquiring the dual title, Astronaut/Aquanaut.
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Mercury Atlas 7: Aurora 7
Launch Pad: LC-14Vehicle: Atlas (7)Crew: M. Scott Carpenter Payload Spacecraft No. 18, Launch Vehicle Number 107-D Mission Objective Corroborate man in orbit. Orbit Altitude: 166.8 by 99.9 statute milesOrbits: 3Period: 88…
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60 Years Ago: Scott Carpenter Orbits the Earth aboard Aurora 7
On May 24, 1962, astronaut M. Scott Carpenter completed America’s second orbital spaceflight during the Mercury-Atlas 7 mission. Carpenter flew…
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Former Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter
The Mercury Seven
On October 7, 1958, shortly after NASA opened for business, it announced its first major undertaking, Project Mercury. The objectives were threefold: to place a human spacecraft into orbital flight around Earth, observe human performance in such conditions, and recover the human and the spacecraft safely. In January 1959, the committee received and screened 508 service records of a group of talented test pilots, of which seven were ultimately chosen.
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The Mercury Seven
