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Malcolm Scott CarpenterAmerican astronaut
Date of Birth: 01.05.1925
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Biography of Malcolm Scott Carpenter
- Military Service
- Astronaut Career
- Mercury-Atlas 7 Mission
- Later Life and Contributions
Biography of Malcolm Scott Carpenter
Early Life and EducationMalcolm Scott Carpenter, an American astronaut, was born on May 1, 1925, in Boulder, Colorado. When Carpenter was three years old, his parents divorced, and his mother suffered from tuberculosis. As a result, Carpenter was raised by family friends. He attended the University of Colorado from 1945 to 1949, where he earned a bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering.
Military Service
In 1949, Carpenter began his service in the United States Navy, specializing in aviation. By 1951, he became a naval aviator and served during the Korean War, escorting military ships and conducting reconnaissance flights over the Yellow Sea, South China Sea, and the Taiwan Strait. After the war, Carpenter attended the Navy Test Pilot School and became a test pilot in 1954.
Astronaut Career
In 1959, Carpenter was selected as one of the original seven astronauts for NASA's Mercury program. Initially, he served as the backup for John Glenn, who made the first American orbital spaceflight in February 1962. However, due to health issues, Donald Slayton was replaced by Carpenter, and he was assigned to the Aurora 7 spacecraft for the second orbital flight.
Mercury-Atlas 7 Mission
On May 24, 1962, Carpenter embarked on his historic space journey aboard the Mercury-Atlas 7 spacecraft named "Aurora 7." The spacecraft was launched into orbit by an Atlas rocket. Carpenter completed three orbits around the Earth and splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 1000 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral. The mission lasted 4 hours, 56 minutes, and 5 seconds. Carpenter had to wait for several hours before the arrival of the recovery team. NASA was not entirely satisfied with Carpenter's performance during the mission, resulting in his removal from future spaceflight preparations.
Later Life and Contributions
Following his space mission, Carpenter contributed to the development of the lunar module for the Apollo program. In 1965, he participated in underwater experiments with the United States Navy, spending 30 days in a submerged laboratory at a depth of 60 meters. During this time, Carpenter had a phone conversation with astronauts Gordon Cooper and Charles Conrad, who were in space aboard the Gemini V spacecraft.
After leaving NASA in August 1967, Carpenter continued his involvement in underwater experiments and training astronauts for extravehicular activities. He founded the company Sear Sciences, which focused on marine resource utilization. Carpenter collaborated with renowned French marine explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau and conducted deep-sea dives in all oceans, including under the ice in the Arctic.
Carpenter authored two novels and an autobiography. He was married three times and had seven children. Malcolm Scott Carpenter passed away on October 10, 2013, leaving behind a legacy of exploration and dedication to the advancement of space and marine sciences.
