Date of Birth: March 6, 1927
Zodiac Sign: Pisces
Date of Death: October 4, 2004
Biography
Leroy Gordon Cooper Jr., commonly known as Gordon Cooper, was an American aerospace engineer, test pilot, United States Air Force pilot, and one of the seven original astronauts in Project Mercury, the first human space program of the United States. Born on March 6, 1927, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, Cooper developed an early interest in aviation, earning his pilot’s license by the age of 16. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1945 and later transferred to the U.S. Air Force, where he became a test pilot. In 1959, Cooper was selected as one of the Mercury Seven astronauts. His first spaceflight was in 1963, piloting the Mercury-Atlas 9 mission where he orbited the Earth 22 times. This mission, known as Faith 7, made him the first American astronaut to sleep in space and the last American to fly an entirely solo orbital mission. Cooper’s second and final spaceflight was as Command Pilot of Gemini 5 in 1965, where he set a new space endurance record by spending nearly 8 days in orbit with astronaut Charles “Pete” Conrad. After retiring from NASA and the Air Force in 1970, Cooper explored various business ventures, including aerospace and real estate. He passed away on October 4, 2004, in Ventura, California. Cooper’s contributions to space exploration and aviation continue to be celebrated, and he remains an inspiring figure in the history of human spaceflight.
5 Interesting Facts about Gordon Cooper
1. Gordon Cooper was the first American astronaut to sleep in space.
2. He piloted the longest and final Mercury spaceflight, orbiting the Earth 22 times.
3. Cooper set a new space endurance record on the Gemini 5 mission, staying in orbit for almost 8 days.
4. He was known for manually controlling his spacecraft’s re-entry when instruments failed during the Mercury-Atlas 9 mission.
5. Cooper wrote his autobiography, “Leap of Faith: An Astronaut’s Journey into the Unknown,” detailing his experiences and belief in UFOs.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Gordon Cooper
1. “Whoever said the sky is the limit never left the Earth.”
2. “I believe that these extraterrestrial vehicles and their crews are visiting this planet from other planets.”
3. “I wanted to be a part of the space program from the beginning.”
4. “I had faith in the engineering and the people behind the scenes.”
5. “The human race shouldn’t have all its eggs in one basket on one planet.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Gordon Cooper’s net worth was estimated to be around $5 million.
Children
Gordon Cooper had four daughters: Camala Keoki Cooper, Janita Lee Cooper, Colleen Taylor Cooper, and Elizabeth Jo Cooper.
Relevant Links
2. [Gordon Cooper’s Profile on Space.com](https://www.space.com/20445-gordon-cooper-biography.html
3. [Gordon Cooper’s Mercury-Atlas 9 Mission Details](https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4201/ch11-3.htm
5. [Gordon Cooper’s Find a Grave Memorial](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9552056/gordon-cooper
