(Washington, DC) – Yesterday, Scott Carpenter, one of the original seven astronauts selected by NASA to fly into space as part of Project Mercury, died at the age of 88.
Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) made the following statement.
“I noted with sadness the passing of Scott Carpenter. As a member of Project Mercury, Scott Carpenter was a pioneer of the space program, one of the first seven Americans selected to enter space, and the second American to orbit the Earth. The missions carried out by Scott Carpenter and the Mercury astronauts remind us of the perilous risks and profound rewards of space exploration. These heroes serve as an inspiration to all of us.
“Scott Carpenter always advocated for a robust space program. He once said when referring to the Mercury 7, ‘We stand here waiting to be outdone.’ I believe that the best way we can honor his legacy is to continue to invest in our space program and build on that legacy of exploration.”
Ranking Member of the Space Subcommittee, Donna F. Edwards (D-MD) said the following.
“Scott Carpenter was a courageous pioneer whose accomplishments shaped our country’s history of space travel. A strong advocate for a robust space program, he once remarked that ‘the zero-g sensation and the visual sensation of space flight are transcending experiences, and I wish everybody could have them.’ I hope we build on his accomplishments and honor his life by ensuring that his wish becomes a reality for many more American astronauts. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, and all those whose lives he touched.”
X
