Scott Carpenter, the second American astronaut to orbit the Earth, died at 88 due to stroke complications Thursday, according to a NASA report.
Carpenter was part of the seven-member team of NASA's Mercury 7. Born in Boulder, Colorado, he graduated in the University of Colorado with a degree in aeronautical engineering. He served in the Navy for two decades before he retired in 1969.
The Mercury 7, also known as the Original Seven and Astronaut Group 1, was composed of Scott Carpenter, John Glenn, L. Gordon Cooper, Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Walter Schirra, Alan Shepard and Donald "Deke" Slayton. Carpenter was John Glenn's back up pilot. Mercury 7 flew before the first US orbital flight in space, which took off February 1962.
In May 1962, he took the pilot seat for the second U.S orbital flight manned by Americans. He landed 252 nautical miles away from his target landing. The flight recorded 4 hours and 54 minutes.
After serving NASA, Carpenter became one of the Navy's aquanaut for the Sealab II Man in the Sea Project. He delved and probed into the depths of the seas and even stayed underwater for 30 days without going ashore.
According to Carpenter, "I still can't make up my mind whether I like outer or inner space better. But there's a difference in glory.”
"We have lost a true pioneer. I shall long remember him not only for his smarts and courage but his incredible humor. He kept us all grounded. We will miss him greatly," said NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden in a statement.
Another colleague, Apollo 12 pilot Dick Gordon shared, "He was one of the good guys and a good friend, a pioneer who made significant contributions to our country."
Carpenter had a thing for writing too. He penned two novels and a journal titled For Spacious Skies: The Uncommon Journey of a Mercury Astronaut released in print in 2003.
