CNN reporting that Gordon Cooper has died

[kcwayne]

No details.

What an ironic coincidence that a early pioneer in space flight passes on the day that civilian space flight is enabled.

[high density]

1. From NASA:

NASA Mourns Loss of Original Mercury 7 Astronaut Gordon Cooper

Leroy Gordon Cooper, Jr., (Colonel, USAF, Ret.) an original Mercury 7 astronaut, died earlier today at his home in Ventura, Calif. He was 77 years old. Cooper piloted the sixth and last flight of the Mercury program and later commanded Gemini V.

"As one of the original seven Mercury astronauts, Gordon Cooper was one of the faces of America's fledgling space program. He truly portrayed the right stuff, and he helped gain the backing and enthusiasm of the American public, so critical for the spirit of exploration. My thoughts and prayers are with Gordon's family during this difficult time," said NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe.


http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2004/oct/HQ_04335_cooper_dies.html

[tridim]

2. Wow, I always though he was one of those who died

in the accidental fire during the Apollo I test. Guess I was wrong.

[charlie]

3. You mean Apollo?

That was Gus Grissom. With Chaffee and White.

[tridim]

4. Yea, I just edited it.

Gordo was the one who blew the hatch, right? Thinking back to "The Right Stuff".

[charlie]

5. Grissom blew the hatch

:)

(I was a Space Program maniac when I was a kid)

[htuttle]

6. Wonder if he was hanging on until the day civilian space flight was real?

My God. That means Burt Rutan killed Gordon Cooper!

:tinfoilhat:

[Jacobin]

7. Wasn't he on Apollo 13 that almost was lost?

[charlie]

8. Uh-uh

Lovell, Swigert, and Haise were the astronauts on that one.