For Spacious Skies The Uncommon Journey Of A Mercury Astronaut

by Carpenter, Scott; Stoever, Kris

• ISBN13: 9780451211057
• ISBN10: 0451211057
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-01-06
• Publisher: NAL Trade

Summary

In 1962, an anxious nation watched on live TV as astronaut Scott Carpenter's Aurora 7capsule malfunctioned during reentry. Only his courage and skill saved the day. But instead of praise for having the "Right Stuff," Carpenter drew criticism for "botching" an otherwise flawless mission and overshooting his landing zone. Although a mechanical glitch was responsible, Carpenter-the "free spirit" of the Mercury Seven-never flew into space again. But his days as a daring, pioneering explorer were far from over... Carpenter overcame tremendous adversity to go from small-town boy to Navy test pilot, Mercury astronaut, and undersea explorer. Now, writing with his daughter, he breaks his 40-year silence to set the record straight about the Aurora 7 mission, the often ruthless early years at NASA-and the rugged upbringing that produced the man John Glenn has called "one of America's modern heroes."

Author Biography

Scott Carpenter is one of the seven original "Right Stuff" astronauts. The fourth American in space and the second to orbit the Earth, he went on to participate in the U.S. Navy's pioneering Man-in-the-Sea program (Sealabs I, II, and III) as an underwater explorer and researcher.

Kris Stoever was six years old in 1962 when her father, Scott Carpenter, rocketed into space. A graduate of Georgetown, she has worked as an editor and writer.

Table of Contents

Prologue	viii
PART ONE: Earth
Buddy	3	(13)
A Frozen Sea	16	(15)
The Unpleasantness	31	(13)
Pocketknives, Pens, and Other Edge Tools	44	(25)
PART TWO: Sky
I Am Now a Naval Aviation Cadet	69	(22)
A Navy Wife?	91	(17)
Love, War, and Quonset Huts	108	(25)
PART THREE: Stars
For Spacious Skies	133	(30)
You Are Hereby Ordered	163	(33)
One Hundred Chimps	196	(21)
The Fibrillating Heart	217	(21)
Delta Becomes Aurora	238	(38)
Commander Carpenter and His Flying Machine!	276	(20)
The Color of Fire	296	(33)
Epilogue	329	(6)
Waiting for Dad	333	(2)
Notes	335	(25)
Acknowledgments	360	(4)
Index	364