Posts: 2131 From: Sydney, Australia Registered: Sep 2003
posted 05-24-2010 07:12 AM
I would just like to recognise and salute the anniversary of Scott Carpenter's magnificent flight aboard Aurora 7 on this day (May 24) back in 1962.
Back then, I regarded Scott as a great and inspirational hero, and that feeling has never wavered in all the years that have followed. Our older son Scott was even named for him. I've had the great privilege of meeting Scott Carpenter several times over the years, and have never found him to be anything but gracious, pleasant and a true gentleman.
He is a true spaceflight pioneer, and I salute him today.
Rick Boos Member
Posts: 851 From: Celina, Ohio Registered: Feb 2000
posted 05-24-2010 11:53 AM
I agree Colin and well stated! It's hard to believe it's been that many years! Where has time gone? Godspeed Scott!
Dave Clow Member
Posts: 236 From: South Pasadena, CA 91030 Registered: Nov 2003
posted 05-24-2010 12:10 PM
Bravo.
Rob Joyner Member
Posts: 1308 From: GA, USA Registered: Jan 2004
posted 05-24-2010 06:27 PM
One man, one launch, one hero.
Happy anniversary to a true American legend. Thank you Mr. Carpenter.
Lou Chinal Member
Posts: 1374 From: Staten Island, NY Registered: Jun 2007
posted 05-24-2010 10:41 PM
What a launch! I thought it happened last just last year.
Rusty B Member
Posts: 239 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Oct 2004
posted 02-02-2011 09:52 PM
Here's a bit of sad info that I learned about the MA-7 mission while looking at the Google newspaper archive for info about the flight:
Plane Crash Mars Orbit Preparations
May 18, 1962 - 14 killed in Air Force Contingency Recovery plane crash. A C-130 involved in preparing emergency recovery operations for the Mercury-Atlas 7 Scott Carpenter orbital mission crashed in Africa.
capoetc Member
Posts: 2305 From: McKinney TX (USA) Registered: Aug 2005
posted 05-24-2011 07:37 AM
Today is the 49th anniversary of Scott Carpenter's MA-7 mission.
Just one year until the 50th anniversary!
moorouge Member
Posts: 2486 From: U.K. Registered: Jul 2009
posted 05-24-2011 08:13 AM
Memories of 49 years ago. I was teaching at the time and during the last lesson of the day the class were listening to the flight on VOA.
Come the going home bell nobody moved despite it being normal for the school to be devoid of pupils five minutes after the release signal. In fact, most of the class stayed until we were kicked out by the caretaker some 90 minutes later.
As I recall I listened to the actual recovery at cricket practice in the early evening on my short wave radio.
MarylandSpace Member
Posts: 1406 From: Registered: Aug 2002
posted 05-24-2011 11:59 AM
I had a great ear-to-ear smile as I saw "Today in Space History."
I have had the honor to meet Scott Carptenter several times and each time was special.
Duke Of URL Member
Posts: 1316 From: Syracuse, NY Registered: Jan 2005
posted 04-04-2012 08:45 AM
In a few weeks we'll celebrate the 50th anniversary of the "Dynamic Pioneer" Scott Carpenter's flight.
He's taken some really unfair criticism with his usually gentlemanly forbearance.
One thing critics fail to mention is that by bringing down a flawed spacecraft — fatally flawed without Scott Carpenter at the controls — he might have saved the space program itself. An astronaut dying in flight would have set back American manned spaceflight for decades. We might have gone into 2000 with a program much like China does now.
His contribution to training astronauts underwater, standard to this day, merits thanks.
I don't know. I think these achievements rate Carpenter some serious gratitude. And the NASA medal for best abs in his astronaut group too.
Rusty B Member
Posts: 239 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Oct 2004
posted 04-04-2012 04:29 PM
In the MA-7 mission report, Scott Carpenter mentions that he has taken a series of pictures of the spent Atlas booster as it trailed his spacecraft early in the mission. I have never seen any of these pictures. Are they available anywhere?
From the Mercury Atlas 7 mission report "Results of the Second United States Manned Orbital Flight May 24, 1962" (available on the NASA NTRS website):
Pilot Performance (Page 65, "Sustainer Stage Tracking")
The pilot readily sighted the sustainer stage (spend Atlas booster) through the spacecraft window after completion of the spacecraft turnaround at a calculated distance of approximately 300 yards.
He continued to observe and photograph the sustainer for 8 1/2 minutes at which time the sustainer stage was calculated to be at a range of 3 miles behind and below the spacecraft...
Pilots Flight Report (Page 70):
Following the turnaround, I watched the expended launch vehicle through the window as it fell behind me, tumbling slowly. It was bright and easily visible. I could see what looked like little ice crystals emanating from the sustainer engine nozzle...
Appendix MA-7 Air-to ground communications (Page 78 and 79):
00 05 52 Pilot, "Okay, turnaround has stopped. I'm pitching down. I have the moon in the center of the window, and the booster off to the right slightly."
00 06 58 Pilot, "Roger. The control system on fly-by-wire is very good. I have the booster in the center of the window now, tumbling very slowly."
00 07 04.5 Pilot, "A steady stream of gas, white gas, out of the sustainer engine. Going to ASCS now."
00 09 54.5 Pilot, "Mark. One picture of the booster. Going to transmit and record now. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 .......10, 11, 12 pictures of the booster, traveling right down the center of the booster, right down the center of the window."
0010 34 Pilot, "...The, let's see, where's the booster? There's some beautiful cloud patterns down there. The booster is in front of a large cloud pattern. I seem to be, I seem to be much closer to the earth than I expected to be. The booster is 2 miles away now."
00 11 40 Pilot, "I have some pictures of the booster, maybe 17 or 18, all together. Then going to the horizon, north sweeping south. There is the moon, just setting. Winding the camera at this time."
328KF Member
Posts: 1360 From: Registered: Apr 2008
posted 04-04-2012 10:57 PM
Much data and history were lost by various means following MA-7, some due to the extended time Carpenter spent in the water waiting for pickup.
Among these, I have read that a camera that Scott had in his hand and his Breitling watch were badly damaged by seawater, and his Randall knife was lost during his recovery. I haven't seen too many photos from MA-7, so my assumption is that most of the frames were lost when the camera was swamped.
Anyone who has seen the recovery footage, can see the dipping Carpenter took while on the winch, and the poor quality of cockpit film due to the entrance of salt water to the cabin. Scott took the backup exit path through the top of the spacecraft to keep an open side hatch from flooding and sinking Aurora 7.
Given that the two photographic devices were exposed to salt water, my assumption is that any pictures of the booster may well have been lost.
Rusty B Member
Posts: 239 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Oct 2004
posted 04-05-2012 03:51 PM
That makes sense. If you look at existing MA-7 photos taken from orbit, they all have spots on them. Must be from the water damage.
bwhite1976 Member
Posts: 287 From: Belleville, IL Registered: Jun 2011
posted 05-23-2012 03:25 PM
Aurora 7 is still the coolest sounding spacecraft name ever.
Headshot Member
Posts: 1094 From: Vancouver, WA, USA Registered: Feb 2012
posted 05-23-2012 04:53 PM
The Aurora 7 space capsule is on display at Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. It is near the Apollo 8 Command Module and, as a result, does not get all that much attention from the public.
Having the opportunity, on several occasions, to study it at length, I find it absolutely amazing how SMALL that damn thing is. I am also struck by how brave these guys were, not only to get in it in the first place, but to spend any significant length of time inside it.
All seven Mercury astronauts were a breed that we are not likely to see again.
ColinBurgess Member
Posts: 2131 From: Sydney, Australia Registered: Sep 2003
posted 05-23-2012 06:36 PM
The first time I saw Aurora 7 it was on display at the Hong Kong space museum, something like 30 or so years ago. It was sheathed in Plexiglass, but it surprised me that it was on display completely unguarded and anyone could walk right up to it and physically touch parts of the craft through holes drilled in the Plexiglass.
ea757grrl Member
Posts: 778 From: South Carolina Registered: Jul 2006
posted 05-24-2012 11:28 AM
Happy anniversary to Aurora 7, a pioneering flight that's never truly had the celebration it deserves - and happy anniversary to the super-cool Commander Carpenter, who likewise hasn't received the appreciation he truly deserves for all he's done.
Duke Of URL Member
Posts: 1316 From: Syracuse, NY Registered: Jan 2005
posted 05-24-2012 12:43 PM
I remember when 50 years seemed like forever. Now we're as far removed from that date as the administration of William Howard Taft was then. I can't believe it's been that long.
I'm glad Scott Carpenter is still here to remind us of when adventure was something to be sought instead of a risk to be avoided.
Here's to him.
(The pilot of Aurora isn't just a pioneer... he's a Dynamic Pioneer!)
Gilbert Member
Posts: 1448 From: Carrollton, GA USA Registered: Jan 2003
posted 05-24-2012 02:49 PM
Happy 50th anniversary Scott Carpenter. I recall the day vividly. Has anyone read Aurora 7, a novel that recounts the day in detail from several points of view. Excellent book.
Paul78zephyr Member
Posts: 762 From: Hudson, MA Registered: Jul 2005
posted 05-24-2012 03:36 PM
What an 'uncommon' man. Thank you and God Bless you Scott Carpenter!
carmelo Member
Posts: 1083 From: Messina, Sicilia, Italia Registered: Jun 2004
posted 05-24-2012 03:43 PM
Thank you Scott Carpenter!
mikepf Member
Posts: 448 From: San Jose, California, USA Registered: Mar 2002
posted 05-24-2012 07:37 PM
Congratulations and best wishes to Scott Carpenter. Happy 50th Anniversary.
fredtrav Member
Posts: 1799 From: Birmingham AL Registered: Aug 2010
posted 05-24-2012 08:19 PM
Happy 50th. What a great accomplishment 50 years ago.
ColinBurgess Member
Posts: 2131 From: Sydney, Australia Registered: Sep 2003
posted 05-23-2014 10:22 PM
It's incredibly sad to realise that this will be the first anniversary of the flight of "Aurora 7" in which we don't have Scott Carpenter with us to celebrate the occasion.
It's been 52 years since that momentous day of 24 May 1962, but I still remember it with great clarity as the first manned space mission I followed right from the outset, with a wonderful man I have always greatly admired.
MCroft04 Member
Posts: 1784 From: Smithfield, Me, USA Registered: Mar 2005
posted 05-23-2014 10:22 PM
I clearly remember the launch and then being glued to the TV while Scott was missing. I never dreamed that I would get to meet this great man, but I did.
I agree, it's hard to accept he is no longer here on earth with us.
ejectr Member
Posts: 1917 From: Killingly, CT Registered: Mar 2002
posted 05-24-2014 01:53 PM
Today I am 65. I remember talking my mother into letting me stay home from school to watch it.
Scott Carpenter was the second one to sign my pilot's log book and bigger than anyone else. John Glenn was the first because I saw him first. I showed him my driver's license so he could see I turned 13 on the day of his flight. His reply, "You really know how to hurt a guy." Got a lot of laughs from everyone there. Great guy.
moorouge Member
Posts: 2486 From: U.K. Registered: Jul 2009
posted 05-25-2014 01:36 AM
quote:Originally posted by MCroft04: I clearly remember the launch and then being glued to the TV while Scott was missing.
Just to correct a minor point. Carpenter was only "missing" as far as the media were concerned at the time. Mission Control knew exactly where he was.
He acknowledged a report from the control centre that he was 200 miles long about a minute before splashdown and a recovery aircraft had radar contact a minute before this. Forty minutes later visual contact was made and Carpenter was seen sitting in the life-raft beside Aurora 7.
ejectr Member
Posts: 1917 From: Killingly, CT Registered: Mar 2002
posted 05-13-2021 10:52 AM
Quite impressive...
The complete audio and visual record of astronaut Scott Carpenter's May 24th 1962 three orbit spaceflight.
Blackarrow Member
Posts: 3478 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 05-13-2021 01:08 PM
quote:Originally posted by 328KF: Among these, I have read that a camera that Scott had in his hand and his Breitling watch were badly damaged by seawater...
That seems plausible, yet the "Results of the Second U.S. Manned Orbital Space Flight" (NASA SP-6) does include four or five orbital photographs by Carpenter. These do not look noticeably degraded.
It seems a little odd that a series of pictures of the booster have all been lost, yet other pictures have survived, apparently intact. Would seawater destroy some pictures on a roll of film, but spare others?
KC Stoever Member
Posts: 1020 From: Denver, CO USA Registered: Oct 2002
posted 05-13-2021 04:12 PM
Bob, thanks so much for posting this great YouTube project on MA-7, above, by LM5. One of the comments cracked me up — I held my breath and then read LM5's reply re: Carpenter's purported "larking."
Lol, some memes die hard, hard deaths. May LM5's contribution to space history be one of the final nails in the coffin.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 48656 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-24-2022 09:56 AM
From Andy Saunders ("Apollo Remastered") via Twitter:
For the 60th anniversary today!
Sadly we've never had a clear image of Scott Carpenter during his Mercury mission (only the second US orbital spaceflight), due to the quality of the 16mm pilot cam film.
Finally, here's the result of the restoration:
(Credit: NASA / Andy Saunders, Digital source: Stephen Slater)
perineau Member
Posts: 338 From: FRANCE Registered: Jul 2007
posted 05-25-2022 02:57 AM
Very cool. Thanks for posting that!
Space Cadet Carl Member
Posts: 292 From: Lake Orion, MI Registered: Feb 2006
posted 05-25-2022 10:23 AM
Wow, what an incredible computer restoration by Andy Saunders. I am SO looking forward to getting a copy of "Apollo Remastered" this fall!
Lou Chinal Member
Posts: 1374 From: Staten Island, NY Registered: Jun 2007
posted 06-09-2022 07:11 PM
I met Scott Carpenter several times over the years. Always a true gentleman of the highest order. "Super-Cool Commander" is an under statement.
atlas5guy Member
Posts: 38 From: Registered: Jun 2007
posted 07-09-2022 05:12 PM
As an indication of what Carpenter would have seen of his discarded Atlas 107D, the automatic camera aboard MA-5 also captured the discarded booster in a single frame, numbered MA-5-4712 number 020 in the "March to the Moon" compilation referenced here. Note the white frosted area around the Atlas midsection (the rocket is visible at the far right of the frame).
posted 05-24-2010 07:12 AM
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