Echoes Among the Stars: The Original Website
The First Era in Space, 1957-1975
Mercury: Aurora 7
May 24, 1962
Training for the Journey of a Lifetime
Training, testing, and simulation were key elements in the successes of the space program’s early years. The selection process was especially rigorous for the Mercury Seven astronauts, and their training was especially intense. Scott Carpenter (r) is seen here during water egress training, with fellow Mercury astronaut Wally Schirra (l). NASA photo.
Aurora 7: A Long Wait
A last-minute error caused Scott Carpenter’s Aurora 7 capsule to splashdown far from the intended recovery area, leading to an hours-long search and a long wait for word of the astronaut’s safety. Both astronauts and capsule were eventually located and recovered safely. NASA photo.
A New Way of Seeing
Despite the ordeal of his dangerously long stay in the water before being recovered, Carpenter described his Aurora 7 spaceflight as a thrilling, uplifting experience that reflected the highest aspects of human achievement. Like those of the other Mercury astronauts, his accounts of the mission helped to solidify the public’s interest in space exploration. NASA photo.
