Scott Carpenter

Date of Birth: May 1, 1925

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Date of Death: October 10, 2013

Biography

Malcolm Scott Carpenter, known as Scott Carpenter, was an American naval officer, aviator, aeronautical engineer, astronaut, and aquanaut. He was one of the original seven astronauts selected for NASA’s Project Mercury in April 1959. Carpenter was the second American to orbit the Earth and the fourth American in space, flying the Mercury-Atlas 7 mission on May 24, 1962. Born in Boulder, Colorado, Carpenter graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in aeronautical engineering. He went on to serve as a naval aviator and test pilot before being selected as an astronaut. Carpenter’s spaceflight on Mercury-Atlas 7, also known as Aurora 7, was notable for its scientific experiments and for a serious navigation error that led to a splashdown 250 miles from the target area. After his spaceflight, Carpenter took a leave of absence from NASA to participate in the Navy’s SEALAB program, becoming the first astronaut to live and work on the ocean floor. His contributions to both space exploration and oceanography were significant, as he helped pave the way for future missions in both domains.

5 Interesting Facts about Scott Carpenter

1. Scott Carpenter was the first American astronaut to conduct scientific experiments in space.

2. He was also an aquanaut, participating in the Navy’s SEALAB II program in 1965.

3. Carpenter’s Mercury-Atlas 7 mission had a navigation error that caused him to splash down 250 miles off target.

4. He was a test pilot and flew numerous experimental aircraft before becoming an astronaut.

5. Carpenter wrote an autobiography titled “For Spacious Skies,” co-authored with his daughter, Kris Stoever.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Scott Carpenter

1. “This planet is not terra firma. It is a delicate flower and it must be cared for. It’s lonely. It’s small. It’s isolated, and there is no resupply. And we are mistreating it.”

2. “At no time when I was aboard Aurora 7 did I have any concern for my safety.”

3. “We all have our place in history. Mine is clouds.”

4. “It’s an extraordinary feeling to look at the planet that you’re from. It is so beautiful and fragile, and you realize that it’s the only place we have to live.”

5. “The ocean is as much a part of me as space and aviation.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

The highest net worth Scott Carpenter achieved is not publicly documented, but it is estimated to have been modest, typical of early astronauts who were primarily government employees.

Children

Scott Carpenter had seven children: Marc Scott Carpenter, Kristen Elaine Carpenter, Candace Noxon Carpenter, Robyn Jay Carpenter, Timothy Kit Carpenter, Matthew Scott Carpenter, and Nicholas Andre Carpenter.