May 24, 2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the flight of Aurora 7.
Click HERE for
information and Scott Carpenter approved
commemorative collectibles and events.
Scott Carpenter, a dynamic pioneer of
modern exploration, has the unique distinction of being the first human ever to
penetrate both inner and outer space, thereby acquiring the dual title,
Astronaut/Aquanaut.
Welcome to
my web site. As one of only two remaining Original Mercury Seven
astronauts [along with John Glenn], I hope that this site gives people of all
ages some insight into the early manned space program of the late 1950's into
the 1960's and how we approached the great unknown of the time. It is my
pleasure to share these memories with you. Enjoy your trip with me.
---
M. Scott Carpenter
As a point in history, May 24, 2012 will
mark the 50th anniversary of the flight of Aurora 7. We've been busy with the 40th anniversary events of the moon
landings. Let's not forget what got us to the moon in the first
place. We built on the shoulders of Mercury.
Listen to Cmdr. Carpenter's radio interview on KCBQ, discussing his
flight, his days at NASA and afterwards on the
multimedia page about the flight of Aurora
7 and his days as an astronaut and an aquanaut that was recorded on
the 48th anniversary of his flight.
--- Your Webmaster |
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NEW BOOK ALERT!
Now
available online and at bookstores everywhere,
"Selecting the Mercury Seven - The Search for America's
First Astronauts"
by Colin Burgess.
The names of the seven
Mercury astronauts were announced in April 1959 amid a
flurry of publicity and patriotism. This work provides
biographical details of all thirty-two finalists for the
seven coveted places as America's pioneering astronauts. All
of the candidates were among the nation's elite pilots
involved in testing new supersonic aircraft capabilities.
Most had served as wartime fighter and bomber pilots; some
were test pilots on top secret and sophisticated aviation
projects, while others were fleet admirals, prisoners of
war, and proposed pilots for spaceflight programs such as
the Dyna-Soar (X-20). The names of all 32 finalists have
been kept secret until very recently. "Selecting the Mercury
Seven" also relates the history and difficulties behind the
initial choice of candidates. The lives, motivations,
military careers, and achievements of the unsuccessful
twenty-five finalists are explored first in fully authorized
biographies. Test pilots for the U.S. Navy, Air Force, and
Marine Corps, each man has a fascinating and very different
story to tell. All thirty-two men had to endure meticulous,
demeaning, and brutal week-long medical examinations at the
Lovelace Clinic in New Mexico. This was followed by another
torturous week at the Wright Aeromedical Laboratory in Ohio,
where they were subjected to extreme fitness and
physiological testing, the sole purpose of which was to sort
out the Supermen from the near-supermen. The final part of
the book examines the accomplishments and spaceflights of
the seven successful candidates, bringing their amazing
stories right up to date.
A special
edition, containing the genuine autographs of the living
Mercury astronaut candidates is available in a very
limited amount exclusively through
FarthestReaches.Com
See the Book Cover Art
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The
webmaster would like to thank John Gincley and Kris Stoever for
their contribution to the updated web site along with the input and
patience of Scott and Patty Carpenter. Thank you for your continued
encouragement to finish this project in record time. Also, a tip of the
beanie to Francis French, Steve Hankow, Rob Pearlman, Dee O'Hara, Bruce
Moody and several others for your help.
If you have any photos with Cmdr. Carpenter that you would like to see
on this site, please submit them to the
Webmaster for consideration. Please make sure they are not larger
than 800 x 600. |
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