The following is a statement released by Jim Kennedy, Kennedy Space Center director, on the news of the passing of legendary Mercury Seven astronaut Gordon Cooper:
“Gordon Cooper’s legacy is permanently woven into the fabric of the Kennedy Space Center as a Mercury Seven astronaut. His achievements helped build the foundation of success for human space flight that NASA and KSC have benefited from for the past four decades. While the KSC family mourns the loss of this space pioneer, we honor his contributions and rest easy knowing his imprint on KSC will last forever. I consider it a privilege to have known Gordon Cooper. On behalf of the KSC family, I extend condolences to the Cooper family and our prayers are with them in their trying days ahead.”
