Booking Scott Carpenter for Appearances

Scott Carpenter is often asked to speak or lecture on various subjects, ranging from accounts of his growing up in Boulder, Colo., and his boyhood fascination with aviation—topics that might interest educators and schoolchildren.

Most Americans (and others) are now too young to remember the dramatic events leading to the creation of NASA, the selection of the Project Mercury astronauts, and the eventual moon landings. Fortunately, we have witnesses who remember and can tell at least some the stories from that time. Commander Carpenter can speak about innovation, physical conditioning, leadership, the importance of teamwork, individual excellence and the setting of personal goals. He can also speak on more specifically technical topics. Commander Carpenter tries to stay current in his field (aeronautical engineering). Also, as an eyewitness to and participant in key events of the earliest days of the U.S. space program, especially Project Mercury, Carpenter is in a unique position to tell stories about NASA and the people there who made it all possible.

General interest in the cold war and the early U.S. space program will likely increase with the 50th anniversary of Sputnik fast approaching (October 2007).

As an innovator and test subject working underwater, as a member of the U.S. Navy’s Sealab program in the 1960s, Carpenter can also recount his adventures training and working with the aquanauts of Sealabs 1, 2, and 3. By the way, look for his essay (to be posted here, in January 2007) on a memorable dive trip to Cozumel in 1966. Wernher Von Braun canceled at the last minute.

Email Cmdr. Carpenter here for more information about his availability for 2007.