Learning Center Our Enshrinees

M. Scott Carpenter

• Flew P2V’s in anti-submarine patrols and shipping surveillance missions during the Korean War.
• Attended the Navy General Line School and then the Navy Air Intelligence School in 195l. In 1958 he was assigned to the USS Hornet aircraft carrier as the air intelligence officer. Before he had the opportunity to head out to sea, he was selected to be one of NASA’s original seven Mercury Astronauts on April 9th, 1959.
• Served as John Glenn’s backup pilot, during preparation for the United States’ first manned orbital space flight in February of 1962.
• In May of 1962, Carpenter became the fourth American in space and the second to orbit the Earth.
• In 1965, as part of SeaLab II, he and other team members spent 28 days living on the Pacific Ocean floor off the coast of California.
• Developed underwater training to help astronauts prepare for future spacewalks. He also helped design the Apollo Lunar Landing Module as well as the underwater extravehicular activity crew training.
• Founded and Chief Executive Officer of Sear Sciences, Inc., a corporation that developed programs for utilizing ocean resources and improving environmental health.
• Created the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation with other Mercury 7 in 1984, to aid science and engineering students annually.
• Published several books including his autobiography that he co-wrote with his daughter Kris Stover, titled “For Spacious Skies: The Uncommon Journey of a Mercury Astronaut.”