posted 04-13-2012 04:30 PM               

Aurora 7 50th Anniversary Celebration

Join Mercury 7 astronaut Scott Carpenter in the Big Apple for a posh celebration in honor of the 50th Anniversary of his flight, Aurora 7! This extraordinary opportunity includes two days of celebrity-worthy activities with Carpenter, his fellow astronauts, friends and family.

The party begins Wednesday, May 23, when the renowned Players Club in Gramercy Park shuts down for a private dinner only for Carpenter and his guests. Founded in 1888 by Shakespearean actor Edwin Booth, the members-only Players Club is an exclusive townhouse draped in rich furnishings, brilliant stained glass and breathtaking canvases. Take in the establishment's rich history while you enjoy an intimate dinner with exquisite cuisine and luscious libations alongside American legends.

After an evening recounting the amazing tale of the Mercury launch, walk in the steps of history on the flight deck of the Aurora 7 recovery ship, USS Intrepid, in a ceremony featuring Carpenter and ship crew members from that historical day!

This offer has extremely limited availability and is non-transferable. Guests of these memorable events will also receive an autographed photo from Carpenter.

Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, email or call 321.455.7014. Sales will close promptly at 30 tickets; no exceptions. ASF reserves the right to refuse anyone for any reason, which will be exercised in good faith.

posted 05-25-2012 02:00 AM              

• Scott Carpenter
  
• Dave Scott
  
• Rusty Schweickart
  
• Bob Crippen
  
• Harrison Schmitt [arrived after dinner, before presentation]

One of Carpenter's sons showed part of a film he is working on about his father's, and John Glenn's flight. Some amazing footage, much I had not seen before.

posted 05-25-2012 10:57 AM               

Thank you.

I am so glad to be here, with you all, for this celebration of Aurora 7 50 years later.

I was delighted at first by Patty's request that I say a few words about dad and his flight. Then I realized there was a downside to my having witnessed his launch on May 24, 1962. The upside? I get to brag. The downside: my age at the time is now well documented. I'll leave the math to you.

Nineteen sixty-two was a great year for me. I was in first grade, teacher's pet, my parents were on the cover of LIFE magazine. Every parent got a turn there, I thought. And 1962 was my parents' turn. And now my dad was poised to make history aboard Aurora 7 and Walt Disney released Sleeping Beauty, starring Princess Aurora. My life was complete.

That was a six-year-old's view. I know now how frightening the times were. Nuclear-tipped missiles, bomb shelters, duck and cover drills, the real threat of nuclear war. I do remember my dad — thank you dad — for not sparing me. "So what do we do, Daddy, when the Bomb drops. Where do we hide?" He said simply. "Nothing. We will be vapor."

But I digress.

The bottom line is: I am here to honor dad.

Dad: Thank you for your service to country. Thank you for your bravery. Thank you for setting a standard for young people who longed for the country to do well and to do good.

Fifty years ago Scotty, Jay, Krissy, and Candy witnessed their father's launch live. We were the first children to do so. Not many people know.

"Do we allow our children," my parents asked each other between March and May 1962, "to be a part of this, not knowing what will happen?" A mixture of courage and faith allowed them to place us on the beach at Cape Canaveral.

Fifty years later I realize their gift to me: "You can do hard things."

So thank you, dad, for your courage and faith.

posted 05-26-2012 12:58 AM               

So it was nice having a Mercury astronaut, Scott Carpenter, Gemini astronaut, Dave Scott, Apollo astronauts, Dave Scott, Rusty Schweikart and Harrison Schmitt, along with the first Shuttle astronaut, Bob Crippen all in one spot on a very special night. Along with Scott's family, it was quite moving - and not the typical astronaut get together. There was a lot of love and respect in the room that night and I will treasure it forever.

And to be personally invited by the guest of honor and his wife is even more special to me. Some of us have been a bit spoiled over the years being around these American heroes. I consider myself lucky and blessed to have the relationships that I do with many of them and to be part of a very exciting night as this one was.