Scott Carpenter, a dynamic pioneer of modern exploration, has the unique distinction of being the first person ever to penetrate both inner and outer space, acquiring the dual title, Astronaut/Aquanaut. He attended the University of Colorado and received a bachelor of science degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Commissioned in the U.S. Navy in 1949, he was given flight training and designated a Naval Aviator in April 1951. During the Korean War he served with patrol Squadron Six, flying missions in the Yellow Sea, South China Sea, and the Formosa Straits. He attended the Navy Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland, in 1954 and was assigned to the Electronics Test Division, flying tests in every type of naval aircraft. Carpenter was selected as one of the original seven Mercury Astronauts in 1959. He underwent intensive training with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), specializing in communication and navigation. He served as backup pilot for John Glenn during the preparation for America's first manned orbital space flight in February 1962. He flew the second U.S. manned orbital flight on May 24th 1962, piloting his Aurora 7 spacecraft through three revolutions of the earth, reaching a maximum altitude of 164 miles. The Aurora 7 re-entry did not go as planned, but Carpenter hand-flew the spacecraft to complete the mission successfully. The spacecraft landed in the Atlantic Ocean about 1,000 miles from Cape Canaveral, after 4 hours and 54 minutes of flight time. Carpenter then participated in the Navy's Man-in the-Sea Project as an Aquanaut in the SEALAB II program off the coast of La Jolla, California. During the 45-day experiment, he spent 30 days living and working on the ocean floor, conducting deep-sea diving activities in a seafloor habitat at a depth of 205 feet. Carpenter continues to share his knowledge as a lecturer, in the U.S. and abroad. Subject matter for these lectures include the history and future of ocean and space technology, the impact of scientific and technological advances on human affairs, and man's continuing search for excellence.
Inducted in 2008.
Portrait Location: Space Gallery

Induction Video