Aurora 7: The Mercury Space Flight Of M. Scott Carpenter (springer Praxis Books)
by Colin Burgess /
2015 / English / PDF
40.1 MB Download
T
TO A NATION enthralled by the heroic exploits of the
Mercury astronauts, the launch of Lt. Cmdr. Scott Carpenter on
NASA’s second orbital space flight was a renewed cause for pride,
jubilation and celebration. Within hours, that excitement had
given way to stunned disbelief and anxiety as shaken broadcasters
began preparing the American public for the very real possibility
that an American astronaut and his spacecraft may have been lost
at sea.
O A NATION enthralled by the heroic exploits of the
Mercury astronauts, the launch of Lt. Cmdr. Scott Carpenter on
NASA’s second orbital space flight was a renewed cause for pride,
jubilation and celebration. Within hours, that excitement had
given way to stunned disbelief and anxiety as shaken broadcasters
began preparing the American public for the very real possibility
that an American astronaut and his spacecraft may have been lost
at sea.In fact, it had been a very close call. Completely out of fuel
and forced to manually guide Aurora 7 through the frightening
inferno of re-entry, Carpenter brought the Mercury spacecraft
down to a safe splashdown in the ocean. In doing so, he
controversially overshot the intended landing zone. Despite his
efforts, Carpenter’s performance on the MA-7 mission was later
derided by powerful figures within NASA. He would never fly into
space again.
In fact, it had been a very close call. Completely out of fuel
and forced to manually guide Aurora 7 through the frightening
inferno of re-entry, Carpenter brought the Mercury spacecraft
down to a safe splashdown in the ocean. In doing so, he
controversially overshot the intended landing zone. Despite his
efforts, Carpenter’s performance on the MA-7 mission was later
derided by powerful figures within NASA. He would never fly into
space again.Taking temporary leave of NASA, Carpenter participated in the
U.S. Navy’s pioneering Sealab program. For a record 30 days he
lived and worked aboard a pressurized habitat resting on the
floor of the ocean, becoming the nation’s first
astronaut/aquanaut explorer.
Taking temporary leave of NASA, Carpenter participated in the
U.S. Navy’s pioneering Sealab program. For a record 30 days he
lived and worked aboard a pressurized habitat resting on the
floor of the ocean, becoming the nation’s first
astronaut/aquanaut explorer.Following extensive research conducted by noted spaceflight
historian Colin Burgess, the drama-filled flight of Aurora 7 is
faithfully recounted in this engrossing book, along with the
personal recollections of Scott Carpenter and those closest to
the actual events.
Following extensive research conducted by noted spaceflight
historian Colin Burgess, the drama-filled flight of Aurora 7 is
faithfully recounted in this engrossing book, along with the
personal recollections of Scott Carpenter and those closest to
the actual events.
