S64-34357 (22 Oct. 1964) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter. NOTE: Commander M. Scott Carpenter, USN, resigned September 1967, and transferred to the U.S. Navy Project Sealab.

S62-04047 (24 May 1962) --- Close-up of astronaut M. Scott Carpenter inside his Aurora 7 spacecraft before the launch of the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) mission. Photo credit: NASA

G60-02737 (May 1960) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter. Photo credit: NASA

S62-05538 (October 1962) --- Portrait of astronaut M. Scott Carpenter in civilian clothes holding picture of the Boy Scout Emblem. Photo credit: NASA

S64-36908 (1962) --- Portrait view of astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, wearing Mercury pressure suit, posing for pictures during astronaut training at the Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photo credit: NASA

B59-00723 (1959) --- Close-up of astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, prime pilot for the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) mission, during centrifuge training. (M-199) Photo credit: NASA

M61-00017 (10 Jan. 1961) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter on flight line with a F-106. Photo credit: NASA

B59-00570 (August 1959) --- Astronaut Scott Carpenter trains at the centrifuge procedures trainer at Wright Field, Johnsville, Pennsylvania, for project Mercury. Photo credit: NASA

S62-04044 (24 May 1962) --- Astronaut Scott Carpenter leaving White Room for launch site to begin Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) mission. Photo credit: NASA

S62-04057 (24 May 1962) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, prime pilot for the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) mission, talks with President John F. Kennedy via radio-telephone from aboard the carrier USS Intrepid. Carpenter was recovered by a helicopter and taken to the Intrepid after a four-hour and 56-minute mission in space. Photo credit: NASA

S61-03506 (1961) --- Project Mercury astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, prime pilot for the United States second manned orbital flight, undergoes a simulated mission in the procedures trainer at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, headquarters for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration?s Manned Spacecraft Center. Photo credit: NASA

S61-03513 (1961) --- Mercury astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, prime pilot for the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) spaceflight, and Crew Equipment Specialist Joe Schmitt are pictured during a suiting exercise. Schmitt is seen lacing up Carpenter's boots. Photo credit: NASA

S62-02852 (1962) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, prime pilot for the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) mission, goes through a water egress training session. Photo credit: NASA

S66-51794 (12 Sept. 1966) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter monitors the Booster Systems Console in the Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC) Mission Control Center during launch of the Gemini-11 spaceflight. Photo credit: NASA

S62-02830 (1962) --- Astronauts John Glenn (left) and Scott Carpenter go over the flight plan for MA-7 mission. (62-MA7-63) Photo credit: NASA

S62-01355 (1962) --- Project Mercury astronauts M. Scott Carpenter, prime pilot of the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) spaceflight, prepares to go through a water egress test. Astronaut Walter M. Schirra (back to camera), the backup MA-7 pilot is also present. Carpenter and Schirra are in the Mercury pressure suit, without the helmet. Behind them is an inflated life raft. Photo credit: NASA

S65-24622 (May 1962) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, prime pilot for the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) flight, is seen in Hangar S crew quarters during a suiting exercise. He is assisted in suiting by technician Al Rochford. In this view, Carpenter is fully suited and is having his gloves adjusted. Photo credit: NASA

S64-14870 (May 1962) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, prime pilot for the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) flight, is seen in Hangar S crew quarters during a preflight suiting activity at Cape Canaveral, Florida. He is assisted in suiting by technician Al Rochford. In this view, Carpenter is fully suited and is having his gloves adjusted. Photo credit: NASA

S62-00120 (1961) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, prime pilot for the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) spaceflight, is seen in Hangar S crew quarters during a suiting exercise at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photo credit: NASA

S62-05529 (24 May 1962) --- The Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7), carrying astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, was launched by NASA from Pad 14, Cape Canaveral, Florida, on May 24, 1962. Photo credit: NASA

S62-01033 (1961) --- Project Mercury astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, prime pilot for the United States second manned orbital flight, undergoes a simulated mission in the procedures trainer at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, headquarters for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration?s Manned Spacecraft Center. Photo credit: NASA

S62-02849 (24 May 1962) --- The Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7), carrying astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, was launched by NASA from Pad 14, Cape Canaveral, Florida, on May 24, 1962. Photo credit: NASA

S65-24624 (22 May 1962) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, prime pilot for the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) flight, is seen in Hangar S crew quarters during a suiting exercise. He smiles at camera as suiting technician Al Rochford adjusts his suit. Photo credit: NASA

S62-04018 (24 May 1962) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter is inserted inside his Aurora 7 spacecraft, before the launch of the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) mission. Photo credit: NASA

S62-03907 (24 May 1962) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter looks into his Mercury-Atlas 7 spacecraft, the Aurora 7, before being inserted to begin the launch. Photo credit: NASA

S62-01381 (1962) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter practices top egress from neck of the spacecraft prior to the launch of the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) spaceflight. Photo credit: NASA

S62-05458 (1962) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, pilot of the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) mission, and his wife participate in a postflight parade in Boulder, Colorado. Photo credit: NASA

S62-01383 (1962) --- Project Mercury astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, prime pilot of the Mercury-Atlas 7 (the nation's second manned orbital flight), completes top egress training in the white room at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The line he is holding is known as the "man line" which attaches the survival kit to the astronaut. The bag is the survival kit he carries for contingency landings. Clearly visible around his neck is the bag containing the life vest. Photo credit: NASA

S62-01145 (1961) --- Project Mercury astronaut M. Scott Carpenter practices manual control of a spacecraft in the Air Lubricated Free Attitude (ALFA) trainer located at NASA?s Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. This trainer allows the astronaut to see the image of Earth?s surface at his feet while manually controlling the spacecraft. Carpenter has been selected as the prime pilot of the United States? second orbital flight. Photo credit: NASA

S62-04114 (1962) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, pilot of the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) mission, receives the NASA Distinguished Service Medal from NASA Adminstrator James E. Webb during ceremonies at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photo credit: NASA

United States Postal Service Vice President of Finance Steve Masse, left, and NASA Mercury Astronaut Scott Carpenter, unveil two USPS stamps to commemorate and celebrate 50 years of US Spaceflight and the MESSENGER program during an event, Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. One stamp commemorates NASA’s Project Mercury, America’s first manned spaceflight program, and NASA astronaut Alan Shepard’s historic flight on May 5, 1961, aboard spacecraft Freedom 7. The other stamp draws attention to NASA’s unmanned MESSENGER mission, a scientific investigation of the planet Mercury. On March 17, 2011, MESSENGER became the first spacecraft to enter into orbit around Mercury. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Mercury Astronaut Scott Carpenter speaks during an unveiling ceremony of two USPS stamps that commemorate and celebrate 50 years of US Spaceflight and the MESSENGER program during an event, Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. One stamp commemorates NASA’s Project Mercury, America’s first manned spaceflight program, and NASA astronaut Alan Shepard’s historic flight on May 5, 1961, aboard spacecraft Freedom 7. The other stamp draws attention to NASA’s unmanned MESSENGER mission, a scientific investigation of the planet Mercury. On March 17, 2011, MESSENGER became the first spacecraft to enter into orbit around Mercury. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

NASA Project Mercury astronaut. -- Carpenter was later known as M. Scott Carpenter.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter's wife, Patricia Carpenter, left, and children listen during the "50 Years of Americans in Orbit" presentation for employees at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. John Glenn and fellow Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter were joined by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Center Director Bob Cabana on stage in Kennedy's training auditorium. This year marks 50 years since Glenn and Carpenter became the first two Americans to orbit Earth. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

S62-04065 (24 May 1962) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, prime pilot for the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) mission, is seen being recovered from the Atlantic Ocean after MA-7 flight. A diver helps Carpenter into a life raft while the capsule floats nearby. Photo credit: NASA

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Former astronaut Scott Carpenter shares his experiences with the audience in KSC's Apollo/Saturn V Center during the dinner celebration of the 40th anniversary of American spaceflight. Carpenter became the second man to orbit the Earth aboard the spacecraft Aurora 7, May 24, 1962

S61-03510 (1961) --- Project Mercury astronaut M. Scott Carpenter smiles, in his pressure suit, prior to participating in a simulated mission run at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Astronaut Carpenter has been selected as the prime pilot on the United States second attempt to put a man into orbit around Earth. Photo credit: NASA

S61-03522 (1961) --- Mercury astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, prime pilot for the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) spaceflight, and Crew Equipment Specialist Joe Schmitt are pictured during a suiting exercise. Schmidt is seen checking the gloves on Carpenter's pressure suit. Photo credit: NASA

S64-10801 (1962) --- Astronauts M. Scott Carpenter (far left) and John H. Glenn Jr. relax following breakfast during Mercury Atlas 6 (MA-6) preflight activity. Glenn is the MA-6 pilot. Carpenter is the MA-6 backup pilot. Photo credit: NASA

S65-24623 (May 1962) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, prime pilot for the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) flight, is seen in Hangar S crew quarters during a suiting exercise. Carpenter is seated in a mock-up of his pilot's seat while fully suited. Photo credit: NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn and Scott Carpenter go over the flight plan for MA-7 mission. Photo credit: NASA

62-MA7-86 (1962) --- John Glenn (left) makes last minute preparations with Scott Carpenter prior to the flight of MA-7. Photo credit: NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn and Scott Carpenter, designated the prime pilot and backup respectively for the first U.S. manned orbital spaceflight. Photo credit: NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn congratulates Scott Carpenter on his three-orbit mission aboard the Aurora 7 spacecraft. Photo credit: NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn makes last minute preparations with Scott Carpenter prior to the flight of MA-7. Photo credit: NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Bob Cabana, director of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, shakes the hand of Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter at the "50 Years of Americans in Orbit" presentation for Kennedy employees. Mercury astronaut John Glenn and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden joined Carpenter and Cabana for the event. This year marks 50 years since Glenn and Carpenter became the first two Americans to orbit Earth. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter takes his seat on stage in the training auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the "50 Years of Americans in Orbit" presentation for employees. Joining Carpenter for the event were fellow Mercury astronaut John Glenn, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana. This year marks 50 years since Glenn and Carpenter became the first two Americans to orbit Earth. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter talks to Bob Cabana, director of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, during the "50 Years of Americans in Orbit" presentation for employees at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Mercury astronaut John Glenn and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden joined Carpenter and Cabana for the event. This year marks 50 years since Glenn and Carpenter became the first two Americans to orbit Earth. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronauts Scott Carpenter and John Glenn pause for a handshake at the conclusion of the "50 Years of Americans in Orbit" presentation for employees at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Center Director Bob Cabana joined Carpenter and Glenn for the event. This year marks 50 years since Glenn and Carpenter became the first two Americans to orbit Earth. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Bob Cabana, director of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter share the stage during the "50 Years of Americans in Orbit" presentation for employees at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Mercury astronaut John Glenn and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden joined Carpenter and Cabana for the event. This year marks 50 years since Glenn and Carpenter became the first two Americans to orbit Earth. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

S62-03248 (24 May 1962) --- Earth and sky views taken with hand-held camera by astronaut M. Scott Carpenter during Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) mission. Photo credit: NASA

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Mercury Atlas 7 lifted off today from Complex 14 carrying Astronaut Scott Carpenter and the Aurora 7 for the second manned orbital mission.

S62-04074 (1962) --- Mercury astronaut M. Scott Carpenter lies on a bed with biosensors attached to his head during astronaut training activities at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photo credit: NASA

62-MA7-169 (1962) --- John Glenn congratulates Scott Carpenter (left) on his three-orbit mission aboard the Aurora 7 spacecraft. Photo credit: NASA

S62-03270 (24 May 1962) --- Earth and sky views taken with hand-held camera by astronaut M. Scott Carpenter during Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) mission. Photo credit: NASA

The MA-7 Booster ignites on the pad and is seconds away from actual liftoff. Aboard the spacecraft is Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, the U.S. second man to orbit the Earth. CAPE CANAVERAL, FL CN

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter assists astronaut John H. Glenn Jr. with equipment adjustments during MA-6 activities. Photo credit: NASA

62-MA7-123 (1962) --- Scott Carpenter (foreground) demonstrates a point to John Glenn while relaxing after his three-orbit MA-7 spaceflight. Photo credit: NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Scott Carpenter demonstrates a point to John Glenn while relaxing after his three-orbit MA-7 spaceflight. Photo credit: NASA

S62-03916 (May 1962) --- The wife and children of astronaut M. Scott Carpenter welcome him after the successful Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) flight. Photo credit: NASA

S62-03250 (24 May 1962) --- Earth and sky views taken with hand-held camera by astronaut M. Scott Carpenter during Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) mission. Photo credit: NASA

S61-04621 (1961) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter looks into a Celestial Training Device (globe) during training in the Aeromedical Laboratory at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photo credit: NASA

S62-03266 (24 May 1962) --- Earth and sky views taken with hand-held camera by astronaut M. Scott Carpenter during Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) mission. Photo credit: NASA

S62-03257 (24 May 1962) --- Earth and sky views taken with hand-held camera by astronaut M. Scott Carpenter during Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) mission. Photo credit: NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --Prime astronaut John Glenn and backup pilot Scott Carpenter check over notes after a simulated flight prior to the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission. Photo credit: NASA

From left, NASA Deputy Director, Planetary Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, Jim Adams, NASA Kennedy Space Center Director of Education and External Relations Cheryl Hurst, United States Postal Service Vice President of Finance Steve Masse, NASA Mercury Astronaut Scott Carpenter, NASA Administrator Charles Boldin, Daughters of NASA astronaut Alan Shepard, Alice Wackermann, Laura Shepard Churchley, and Julie Jenkins, and NASA Kennedy Space Center Director Robert Cabana pose for a photograph during an unveiling ceremony of two USPS stamps that commemorate and celebrate 50 years of US Spaceflight and the MESSENGER program during an event, Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. One stamp commemorates NASA’s Project Mercury, America’s first manned spaceflight program, and NASA astronaut Alan Shepard’s historic flight on May 5, 1961, aboard spacecraft Freedom 7. The other stamp draws attention to NASA’s unmanned MESSENGER mission, a scientific investigation of the planet Mercury. On March 17, 2011, MESSENGER became the first spacecraft to enter into orbit around Mercury. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn is greeted by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden at the "50 Years of Americans in Orbit" presentation for employees at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter and Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana joined Glenn and Bolden for the event. This year marks 50 years since Glenn and Carpenter became the first two Americans to orbit Earth. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Annie Glenn, right, wife of Mercury astronaut John Glenn, and their children listen during the "50 Years of Americans in Orbit" presentation for employees at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. John Glenn and fellow Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter were joined by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Center Director Bob Cabana on stage in Kennedy's training auditorium. This year marks 50 years since Glenn and Carpenter became the first two Americans to orbit Earth. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, Mercury astronauts Scott Carpenter and John Glenn, and Bob Cabana, director of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, stand for applause at the conclusion of the "50 Years of Americans in Orbit" presentation for Kennedy employees. This year marks 50 years since Glenn and Carpenter became the first two Americans to orbit Earth. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Center Director Bob Cabana, left, Mercury astronauts Scott Carpenter and John Glenn, and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden applaud during the "50 Years of Americans in Orbit" presentation for Kennedy employees. This year marks 50 years since Glenn and Carpenter became the first two Americans to orbit Earth. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Employees at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida listen as Center Director Bob Cabana, Mercury astronauts Scott Carpenter and John Glenn, and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden share their spaceflight memories during the "50 Years of Americans in Orbit" presentation for employees. This year marks 50 years since Glenn and Carpenter became the first two Americans to orbit Earth. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Bob Cabana, director of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, shakes the hand of Mercury astronaut John Glenn as NASA Administrator Charles Bolden applauds at the "50 Years of Americans in Orbit" presentation for Kennedy employees. Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter joined Glenn, Bolden and Cabana for the event. This year marks 50 years since Glenn and Carpenter became the first two Americans to orbit Earth. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- It's "standing room only" in the training auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where Mercury astronauts John Glenn and Scott Carpenter were joined by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Center Director Bob Cabana for the "50 Years of Americans in Orbit" presentation for employees. This year marks 50 years since Glenn and Carpenter became the first two Americans to orbit Earth. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronauts Scott Carpenter and John Glenn shake hands with NASA Administrator Charles Bolden right and Bob Cabana, director of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida left at the conclusion of the "50 Years of Americans in Orbit" presentation for Kennedy employees. This year marks 50 years since Glenn and Carpenter became the first two Americans to orbit Earth. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Employees at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida listen as Center Director Bob Cabana, Mercury astronauts Scott Carpenter and John Glenn, and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden share their spaceflight memories during the "50 Years of Americans in Orbit" presentation for employees. This year marks 50 years since Glenn and Carpenter became the first two Americans to orbit Earth. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- From left to right, Center Director Bob Cabana, Mercury astronauts Scott Carpenter and John Glenn, and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden share the stage during the "50 Years of Americans in Orbit" presentation for employees at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This year marks 50 years since Glenn and Carpenter became the first two Americans to orbit Earth. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Former U.S. Senator and Mercury astronaut John Glenn awaits the start of the "50 Years of Americans in Orbit" presentation for employees at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The event also featured Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana. This year marks 50 years since Glenn and Carpenter became the first two Americans to orbit Earth. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The training auditorium is filled to capacity at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where Mercury astronauts John Glenn and Scott Carpenter were joined by NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Center Director Bob Cabana for the "50 Years of Americans in Orbit" presentation. This year marks 50 years since Glenn and Carpenter became the first two Americans to orbit Earth. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter speaks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The event was conducted in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida a few miles from the launch pad where Glenn and Scott Carpenter took flight in Mercury spacecraft. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter listens to remarks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The event was conducted in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida a few miles from the launch pad where Glenn and Scott Carpenter took flight in Mercury spacecraft. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter speaks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The event was conducted in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida a few miles from the launch pad where Glenn and Scott Carpenter took flight in Mercury spacecraft. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter speaks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The event was conducted in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida a few miles from the launch pad where Glenn and Scott Carpenter took flight in Mercury spacecraft. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter speaks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The event was conducted in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida a few miles from the launch pad where Glenn and Scott Carpenter took flight in Mercury spacecraft. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter speaks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The event was conducted in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida a few miles from the launch pad where Glenn and Scott Carpenter took flight in Mercury spacecraft. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Four space pioneers pose for a photo in the Rocket Garden at the KSC Visitor Complex. From left are Gordon Cooper, Wally Schirra, Scott Carpenter and John Glenn Jr. The occasion was the celebration of the 40th anniversary of American spaceflight. The event was held Feb. 24, 2002

Stardust sample analysis @ UC Berkeley clean room with Dr Scott Sandford, NASA Ames Astrophysicist - mission samples provided to UC Berkeley for analysis by NASA Jess Carpenter, NASA/AMES video crew at Berkeley Lab setting for filming from outside the clean room

The original seven astronauts for the Mercury Project pose in front of an Air Force Jet. From left to right: Scott Carpenter, L. Gordon Cooper, John H. Glenn, Virgil I. Gus Grissom, Walter M. Wally Schirra, Alan B. Shepard, and Donald K. Deke Slayton.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Five of the Mercury astronauts gathered on the stage of KSC's Apollo/Saturn V Center during the celebration of the 40th anniversary of American spaceflight. From left are former astronauts Gordon Cooper, Wally Schirra, Scott Carpenter, John Glenn and James Lovell, who served as host of the celebration.

S62-01358 (1962) --- Project Mercury astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, prime pilot of the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) spaceflight, goes through a water egress test. He is in the Mercury pressure suit, without the helmet, and is wearing a life vest. Photo credit: NASA

S62-04058 (24 May 1962) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, prime pilot for the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) mission, arrives aboard the prime recovery ship, USS Intrepid, during recovery operations following his Earth-orbital mission. Photo credit: NASA

Five of the seven original astronauts are seen with Dr. von Braun inspecting the Mercury-Redstone hardware in the Fabrication Laboratory of Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA) in 1959. Left to right: Astronauts Walter Schirra, Alan Shepard, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, and Dr. von Braun.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- During opening ceremonies for the 40th anniversary celebration of American spaceflight, four space pioneers stand at attention: (from left) John Glenn Jr., Scott Carpenter, Wallly Schirra and Gordon Cooper. The site is the Rocket Garden in the KSC Visitor Complex

Stardust sample analysis @ UC Berkeley clean room with Dr Scott Sandford, NASA Ames Astrophysicist - mission samples provided to UC Berkeley for analysis by NASA Jess Carpenter, NASA/AMES Video crew Berkeley Lab filming from outside the clean room

S61-04570 (1961) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter's balance mechanism performance is tested by his walking on a narrow board in his bare feet. He is performing this test at the School of Aviation Medicine, Pensacola, Florida. Photo credit: NASA

Stardust sample analysis @ UC Berkeley clean room - mission samples provided to UC Berkeley for analysis by NASA: (r) Dr Andrew Westphal, Berkeley Physicist with Dr Scott Sandford, NASA Ames Astrophysicist (l) oversee sample analysis - Jess Carpenter NASA/Ames videographer documents the event

S62-04027 (24 May 1962) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, prime pilot for the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) mission, arrives aboard the prime recovery ship, USS Intrepid, during recovery operations following his Earth-orbital mission. Photo credit: NASA

S61-04571 (1961) --- Astronaut M. Scott Carpenter's balance mechanism performance is tested as he walks a straight line by putting one foot directly in front of the other. He is performing this test at the School of Aviation Medicine, Pensicola, Florida. Photo credit: NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --A crowd looks on during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The event was conducted in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida a few miles from the launch pad where Glenn and Scott Carpenter took flight in Mercury spacecraft. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett

Mercury astronaut John Glenn speaks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The event was conducted in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida a few miles from the launch pad where Glenn and Scott Carpenter took flight in Mercury spacecraft. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A crowd looks on during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The event was conducted in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida a few miles from the launch pad where Glenn and Scott Carpenter took flight in Mercury spacecraft. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett