Astronaut Scott Carpenter listens to a question from the media about his experience in space, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on February 17, 2012. Carpenter, the second American to orbit the Earth and one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts, died Thursday, October 10. He was 88.
Astronaut Scott Carpenter —
Astronaut Scott Carpenter listens to a question from the media about his experience in space, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on February 17, 2012. Carpenter, the second American to orbit the Earth and one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts, died Thursday, October 10. He was 88.
Michael brown/ap
Carpenter, one of seven men being trained for space flight, tests the mobility of a full pressure suit being developed for use by the Project Mercury trainees. The suit was a prototype designed to protect the astronauts from heat and pressure conditions expected to be encountered during flight. The tests were conducted at the Navy Air Material Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 23, 1959.
Astronaut Scott Carpenter —
Carpenter, one of seven men being trained for space flight, tests the mobility of a full pressure suit being developed for use by the Project Mercury trainees. The suit was a prototype designed to protect the astronauts from heat and pressure conditions expected to be encountered during flight. The tests were conducted at the Navy Air Material Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 23, 1959.
ap
The original seven Mercury astronauts are shown in their flight suits during training at NASA Langley Research Center in March 1961. From left: Lt. Carpenter, Capt. Gordon Cooper, Col. John H. Glenn Jr., Capt. Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Lt. Cmdr. Walter Schirra, Lt. Cmdr. Alan B. Shepard Jr. and Capt. Donald K. "Deke" Slayton.
Astronaut Scott Carpenter —
The original seven Mercury astronauts are shown in their flight suits during training at NASA Langley Research Center in March 1961. From left: Lt. Carpenter, Capt. Gordon Cooper, Col. John H. Glenn Jr., Capt. Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Lt. Cmdr. Walter Schirra, Lt. Cmdr. Alan B. Shepard Jr. and Capt. Donald K. "Deke" Slayton.
nasa/ap
Glenn, right, and Carpenter in front of a Mercury Capsule after Glenn was named to make the country's first manned orbital flight, on November 29, 1961, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Carpenter was chosen as his backup pilot.
Astronaut Scott Carpenter —
Glenn, right, and Carpenter in front of a Mercury Capsule after Glenn was named to make the country's first manned orbital flight, on November 29, 1961, in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Carpenter was chosen as his backup pilot.
ap
Glenn, left, checks over notes with back-up pilot Carpenter after a simulated flight before the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission at Cape Canaveral in 1962.
Astronaut Scott Carpenter —
Glenn, left, checks over notes with back-up pilot Carpenter after a simulated flight before the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission at Cape Canaveral in 1962.
Keystone/Getty Image
Carpenter in front of the NASA Mercury Control Center in Cape Canaveral in May 1962.
Astronaut Scott Carpenter —
Carpenter in front of the NASA Mercury Control Center in Cape Canaveral in May 1962.
NASA/Getty Images
U.S. Atlas missile 107-D launches Carpenter's Mercury 7-Aurora 7 three-orbit flight at Cape Canaveral on May 24, 1962.
Astronaut Scott Carpenter —
U.S. Atlas missile 107-D launches Carpenter's Mercury 7-Aurora 7 three-orbit flight at Cape Canaveral on May 24, 1962.
ap
Carpenter's space suit is adjusted by a technician in Cape Canaveral in August 1962.
Astronaut Scott Carpenter —
Carpenter's space suit is adjusted by a technician in Cape Canaveral in August 1962.
ap
Carpenter, left, with former Mercury 7 astronauts Wally Schirra, Gordon Cooper and Alan Shepard as they ride "The Right Stuff" Mach one flight simulation on April 28, 1995, at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas. The 100-seat theater involves a five-story high screen and seats that move to help simulate flight vibrations.
Astronaut Scott Carpenter —
Carpenter, left, with former Mercury 7 astronauts Wally Schirra, Gordon Cooper and Alan Shepard as they ride "The Right Stuff" Mach one flight simulation on April 28, 1995, at Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington, Texas. The 100-seat theater involves a five-story high screen and seats that move to help simulate flight vibrations.
pat sullivan/ap
Four Mercury Seven astronauts -- Carpenter, left, Gordon Cooper, Walter Schirra and John Glenn -- talk about the early years of the manned space program at the unveiling of a statue of America's first man in space, Alan B. Shepard Jr., on March 20, 2000, at the Astronaut Hall of Fame in Titusville, Florida.
Astronaut Scott Carpenter —
Four Mercury Seven astronauts -- Carpenter, left, Gordon Cooper, Walter Schirra and John Glenn -- talk about the early years of the manned space program at the unveiling of a statue of America's first man in space, Alan B. Shepard Jr., on March 20, 2000, at the Astronaut Hall of Fame in Titusville, Florida.
BRUCE WEAVER/AFP/Getty Images