Second American To Orbit The Earth Passed Away Thursday In Denver

Mercury astronaut M. Scott Carpenter passed away Thursday in Denver, CO at a hospice facility. No cause of death was reported, but he had entered hospice following a recent stroke, according to a report appearing in the New York Times.

Carpenter, who was 88 at the time of his death, was the second American to fly an orbital mission in space. His mission was plagued by technical problems, and his Aurora 7 capsule splashed down in Caribbean off the coast of Puerto Rico 250 nm from its planned landing point. Here were concerns that Carpenter had not survived the three-orbit flight.

Carpenter had been the fourth American in space. Only one of the original seven astronauts, John Glenn, is still alive.

In a statement, NASA administrator Charles Bolden called Carpenter a pioneer who set the tone for our nation's pioneering efforts beyond Earth and accomplished so much for our nation.

"Scott served his nation first in the U.S. Navy, and he later pioneered underwater missions that also helped us learn about operating in space," Bolden said. "When he became the second American to orbit the Earth, he completed his mission despite challenging circumstances. We knew then that not only did America have what it took technologically, but our entire astronaut corps would be able to face the challenges ahead that would lead us to the moon and living and working in space.

"After his spaceflights, Scott helped design the Apollo Lunar Landing Module and was active in underwater training of astronauts for spacewalks. His accomplishments truly helped our nation progress in space from the earliest days to the world leadership we enjoy today. We will miss his passion, his talent and his lifelong commitment to exploration."

(Image provided by NASA)

FMI: www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/carpenter-ms.html