Aurora 7

The words

1. Airglow

   A faint light emitted by gases in Earth’s upper atmosphere.

   Carpenter observed a narrow luminous band above Earth’s horizon. His reports continued the study of the airglow that Glenn had seen on the preceding Mercury mission.

   NASA history: Aurora 7 in flight (opens a new tab) · NASA: the light of the upper atmosphere (opens a new tab)

2. Aurora

   Aurora 7 was Carpenter’s name for the Mercury spacecraft that carried him around Earth three times on May 24, 1962.

   NASA: Aurora 7 mission record (opens a new tab)

3. Balloon

   A tethered balloon tested color visibility and atmospheric drag during Carpenter’s second orbit. It inflated only partly, limiting the experiment’s success.

   Did you know?

   The balloon was painted in five colors so experimenters could compare how they looked in space. A seam tore before it inflated fully.

   NASA: Aurora 7 mission record (opens a new tab) · NASA: Carpenter’s flight and recovery (opens a new tab)

4. Boulder

   Carpenter was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado. He graduated from Boulder High School in 1943 and later studied aeronautical engineering at the University of Colorado.

   Did you know?

   Carpenter left the university in 1949 one course requirement short of graduating. It awarded him his bachelor’s degree in 1962, after Aurora 7.

   CU Boulder: Carpenter’s hometown and degree (opens a new tab)

5. Carpenter

   Scott Carpenter became the second American to orbit Earth on May 24, 1962. During his three-orbit flight, he photographed Earth and carried out scientific experiments.

   NASA: Aurora 7 mission record (opens a new tab)

6. Delta

   Deke Slayton had named the spacecraft Delta 7. After doctors grounded him because of a heart irregularity, NASA assigned Carpenter to the flight; Carpenter chose Aurora 7.

   NASA: Carpenter’s flight and recovery (opens a new tab)

7. Fuel Shortage

   Unintended use of powerful steering jets and simultaneous operation of two control systems increased fuel consumption. The supply ran out during reentry, leaving the capsule without powered attitude control.

   pp. 6–7, Fuel Usage · NASA flight report: controls and fuel (opens a new tab)

8. Grand Turk

   After arriving aboard Intrepid, Carpenter flew to Grand Turk Island in the Turks and Caicos Islands. There he underwent medical examinations and two days of technical debriefings.

   NASA: Carpenter’s flight and recovery (opens a new tab)

9. Life Raft

   After the off-target splashdown, Carpenter left the listing capsule and waited in a life raft tied to it. Recovery aircraft found him before a helicopter arrived.

   NASA: Carpenter’s flight and recovery (opens a new tab)

10. Overshoot

    Aurora 7 landed beyond its planned recovery area. Misalignment during the braking burn, a late start and lower-than-expected retrorocket thrust all contributed to the overshoot.

    p. 454 · NASA history: Aurora 7 in flight (opens a new tab)

11. Pararescue

    Two Air Force pararescue men parachuted into the sea and swam to Carpenter. They helped secure a flotation collar around Aurora 7 while awaiting the recovery helicopters.

    NASA: Carpenter’s flight and recovery (opens a new tab)

12. Peroxide

    Aurora 7 used hydrogen peroxide as fuel for its small steering thrusters. These jets changed the capsule’s orientation; their dwindling fuel supply became a concern during the flight.

    pp. 450, 453–454 · NASA history: Aurora 7 in flight (opens a new tab)

13. Retrofire

    Firing rockets to slow a spacecraft out of orbit.

    Aurora 7’s retrorockets began firing late during the return maneuver. The delay was one of several factors that carried the capsule beyond its planned landing point.

    p. 454 · NASA history: Aurora 7 in flight (opens a new tab)

14. USS Intrepid

    The aircraft carrier USS Intrepid was Aurora 7’s prime recovery ship. Its helicopters retrieved Carpenter, while the USS John R. Pierce later recovered the capsule.

    NASA: Aurora 7 mission record (opens a new tab)

15. Yaw Error

    A sideways error in the direction a spacecraft faces.

    Aurora 7 was turned sideways from the intended direction during retrofire. Its braking thrust therefore did not act directly along the flight path, contributing to the landing overshoot.

    p. 454 · NASA history: Aurora 7 in flight (opens a new tab)