Scott Carpenter
 

Scott Carpenter, one of the original Mercury 7 Astronauts has passed away. He was the second American astronaut to orbit the earth and was the Capcom for John Glenns mission making the famous comment Godspeed John Glenn.
Godspeed Scott Carpenter.

A childhood hero of mine.

RiP

And one of mine.

He was from an age where things were attempted - things that we now take as routine and probable - which weren't even universally considered as possible. We forget that. He also didn't have a degree and was the only non fast jet pilot in the first group.

A life worth living.

He was also the first 'victim' of NASA internal politics; he took the hit for his overshot landing even though, to some, his manual re-entry justified the need for pilots and controls rather than 'spam in a can'. Chris Kraft effectively ended his career after one flight.

Godspeed.

Good Horizon programme on the BBC iPlayer 40 Years on The Moon. Some poignant footage covering the Apollo 1 tragedy. The risks these guys took to extend our knowledge deserves everyone's respect. I was always struck by how humble they appeared.

BBC iPlayer - Horizon: 40 Years on the Moon

And what's more, he and his late sister Karen couldn't half sing ...

Sorry, couldn't resist.

you'll be on the naughty step for that one!

Not many like him these days. We need heroes for when we realise our dads are mortal.


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Agreed, my late father was definitely mortal.

He took a step for all of us and he won his place in history. Fair reward for an adventurous spirit.

HJ,
Well said....:D

Dont forget his work on Sealab, living and working 200ft down no hatch to keep the water out, Helium at 200psi, he thought Sealab much more of a challenge than Mercury.

God speed

God speed Scott Carpenter, one of our first astronauts and a true pioneer.

Bob C

Another of that great group gone, I have always liked this photo of Scott at Langley taken in 1959 (I was three years old then).......

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b7...psf4d427f5.jpg

God Bless Scott!

-John

As a really young kid, way before Apollo 11, I got a book about the original 7. The reason I remember it is because my desire to fly started with that book.

I guess that's what we mean when we say "inspirational".

Read his wiki page...that was a life well lived. Rip Sir.

It took extraordinary men to strap themselves into those early space capsules. RIP Mr Carpenter.