"ASTRONAUT WAITS 3 HOURS FOR NAVY RESCUE"

CARPENTER ORBITS EARTH 3 TIMES BUT FUEL ISSUE LEADS TO 250 MILE OFF-COURSE SPLASHDOWN 

Cape Canaveral, Florida (JFK+50) On May 24, 1962, astronaut Scott Carpenter* became the second American to orbit the earth.  His three orbit flight, aboard the Aurora** 7, ended in a three hour wait for rescue after splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean.

Amy Shira Teitel explains how a low fuel issue plagued the flight.  After the first orbit, the low fuel light came on the console.  Carpenter covered the light up with a piece of tape.

By the time of re-entry, the spacecraft was out of fuel but splashed down safely in the ocean.  Rather than wait in the "hot capsule," Scott Carpenter exited into an inflatable raft.  His landing was off course by 250 miles which explains the long wait for rescue.

The flight of Aurora 7 lasted 4 hours & 56 minutes.  Although successful, Carpenter was held accountable for not complying with repeated reminders to conserve fuel and never flew another space mission.  He retired from NASA in 1967.

*Malcolm Scott Carpenter (1925-2013) was born in Boulder, Colorado & graduated from the University of Colorado.  MSC was commissioned in the US Navy in 1949 & chosen as one of the "Mercury 7" astronauts in 1959.  He was John Glenn's back-up for the 1st U.S. orbital flight.

**Aurora means 'open sky & the dawn' symbolizing the 'dawn of a new age.'  SC chose the name for the spacecraft but did not take into account at the time that Aurora Street was where he grew up in Boulder.  

SOURCE

"Mercury Astronaut Scott Carpenter and the Controversy Surrounding Aurora 7," by Amy Shira Teitel, October 14, 2013, Popular Science, www.popsci.com/ 

   

 

Scott Carpenter Boards Aurora 7

24 May 1962

NASA Photo

 

 

Scott Carpenter & Family Visit JFK 

Oval Office

5 June 1962

Photo by Robert Knudsen

JFK Library 

 

 

NASA'S BEST PREPARED ASTRONAUT

SCOTT CARPENTER'S CONTROVERSIAL SPACE FLIGHT

Cape Canaveral, Florida (JFK+50) On May 24, 1962, Scott Carpenter* splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean after three successful orbits and in doing so became the second American to orbit the earth.  

During the five hour flight, Carpenter also was the first astronaut to eat solid food in space.  He was given a multitude of experiments to conduct as well as a "continual transfer of biomedical data."

Although described as NASA's "best prepared astronaut," at the end of the flight Carpenter splashed down 250 miles away from his scheduled landing point.  

The astronaut then had to wait 3 hours for Navy personnel to get in a position to retrieve him.  He was found bobbing up and down in his life raft beside his space capsule.  Flight Director Chris Kraft** blamed Carpenter for the mission's problems and, according to Amy Shira Teitel, was "determined he would never fly again."

Scott Carpenter's May 24 1962 space flight was to be his first and last.

*Malcolm Scott Carpenter (1925-2013), one of the original 7 Mercury astronauts, was born in Boulder, Colorado and graduated from the University of Colorado in 1962.  MSC became a navy pilot & served in the Korean War.  MSC died on Oct 10, 2013, 50 years to the day after JFK presented the Collier Trophy to the Mercury 7 at the White House.

**Christopher C. Kraft, Jr. was born in 1924 in Hampton, Virginia & graduated from Virginia Tech University in 1944.  CCK became NASA's 1st flight director & served in that capacity during all 6 manned Mercury flights.

SOURCES

"Mercury Astronaut Scott Carpenter and the Controversy Surrounding Aurora 7", by Amy Shira Teitel, October 13, 2013, www.popsci.com/

"Scott Carpenter, Mercury astronaut, dead at 88," by William Harwood, www.cbsnews.com

Malcolm Scott Carpenter

NASA Photo (1964)

WHO WAS THE 2ND AMERICAN TO ORBIT THE EARTH?

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 1959

AURORA 7 OVERSHOOTS LANDING TARGET AFTER 3 EARTH ORBITS

Cape Canaveral, Florida (JFK+50) Most Americans know that John Glenn was the first American astronaut to orbit the earth, but they probably could not tell you who made the second orbital flight.

Fifty-four years ago today, May 24, 1962, Scott Carpenter* splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean after three successful earth orbits, becoming the second American to orbit the planet.  He also was the first astronaut to eat solid food in space.

Unfortunately, however, the end of Carpenter's mission did not go as planned. His Aurora 7 spacecraft splashed down 250 miles away from his scheduled landing point.

After spending almost five hours in space, the astronaut then had to wait three more hours for Navy personnel to get in a position to retrieve him.  He was found bobbing up and down in his life raft beside his space capsule.

*Malcolm Scott Carpenter (1925-2013), one of the original seven Mercury astronauts, was born in Boulder, Colorado and graduated from the University of Colorado in 1962.  MSC became a US Navy pilot and served in the Korean War.

MSC served in the Sea Lab program for the US Navy & resigned from NASA in 1967.

MSC died in hospice care in Denver on October 10, 2013, 50 years to the day after President John F. Kennedy presented the Collier Trophy to the Mercury 7 at the White House.


SOURCE

"Scott Carpenter, Mercury astronaut, dead at 88," by William Harwood, www.cbsnews.com

Malcolm Scott Carpenter

NASA Photo (1964)

Carpenter in Recovery Training

NASA Photo (July 1962)

         

ASTRONAUT SCOTT CARPENTER DIES OF STROKE AT AGE 88

October 11, 2013

SCOTT CARPENTER, MERCURY ASTRONAUT, DIES OF STROKE 

Denver, Colorado (JFK+50) Malcolm Scott Carpenter, one of the original seven Mercury astronauts, died in hospice care here in Denver yesterday, October 10, 1963, 50 years to the day after President John F. Kennedy presented the Collier Trophy to the Mercury 7 at the White House.

Carpenter was a Navy pilot and veteran of the Korean War when he was selected on April 9, 1959 as one of the first seven Mercury astronauts.

Malcolm Scott Carpenter

NASA Photo (1964)

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said...

"His accomplishments truly helped our" nation progress in space from the earliest days to the world leadership we enjoy today."

Carpenter's passing leaves 92 year old John Glenn, who was the 1st American to orbit the earth, as the only surviving member of the Mercury 7.

It was the voice of Scott Carpenter we heard on the liftoff of that 1st orbital flight.  He said, "God speed, John Glenn."

Malcolm Scott Carpenter was born in Boulder, Colorado.  He is survived by wife Patty and 6 children.

Carpenter's spaceflight aboard the Aurora 7 was on May 24, 1962.  It was a scientific flight of 3 orbits.  During the mission, Carpenter became the 1st American astronaut to eat solid food in space.

Aurora 7 splashed down 250 miles beyond its' targeted landing site in the Atlantic Ocean.  After a 40 minute search, Carpenter was found "safely bobbing in a life raft by his capsule."

Carpenter in Recovery Training

NASA Photo (July 1962)

After the flight, he served in the Navy's SEALAB program.  Carpenter resigned from NASA in 1967. 


SOURCE

"Scott Carpenter, Mercury astronaut, dead at 88," by William Harwood, www.cbsnews.com

JFK SPOKE AT CEREMONY HONORING ELEANOR ROOSEVELT 50 YEARS AGO 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy spoke at a ceremony marking the issuance of the Eleanor Roosevelt Commemorative Stamp 50 years ago today, October 11, 1963.  The occasion, held in the Rose Garden at the White House here in the Nation's Capital, also marked the 79th anniversary of the former First Lady's birth.

President Kennedy said...

"It is a great pleasure to welcome you to this home where Mrs. Roosevelt lived longer than any other First Lady and to take part in this ceremony commemorating the issuance of this stamp."

JFK continued...

"The things for which Mrs. Roosevelt stood are clearly identifiable and they represent the best of our national effort and purpose.

I welcome all of you today, particularly the Roosevelt family, and her grandson (Hall Delano Roosevelt) who is here with us."

Also speaking at the ceremony was Adlai Stevenson, UN Ambassador, former Governor of Illinois, and Chairman of the Eleanor Roosevelt Memorial Foundation.

Other attendees included Postmaster General John A. Gronouski and members of the Roosevelt family.