NEWS: Gordon Cooper, Mercury Astronaut, Dies

One of the United States space pioneers has died. Godon Cooper one of the origanal Mercury 7 astronauts died in his Ventura California home today, he was 77 years old. He was born March 6 1927 in Oklahoma. Cooper piloted the final flight of the Mercury program that had the primary goal of putting men in orbit around the Earth.



The United States Mercury space program was a fascinating period in history and Gordon Cooper was one of the people that made it happen. The world will remember him as a pioneer.


[edit on 4-10-2004 by jeeze louise]

[edit on 4-10-2004 by Banshee]

God bless "Gordo" Cooper. A great man and a hero to many.

Thanks for opening the door, Gordo. See you on the other side.

Its truly starting to be the end of an era. For us, thi sis going to become more and more common as the heros of yesterday begin to die off. NASA really needs to take its cue from this. Gone are the larger than life heros: the Glens, Shephards, Armstrong et al. Now we have technical specialists that have all the personal interest of shower fungus. Im sorry, i just cannot get excited about Story Musgrave.

Gordo, you will be missed

I believe that these extraterrestrial vehicles and their crews are visiting this planet from other planets which obviously are a little more . . . advanced than we are. . . ."

Colonel L. Gordon Cooper, Mercury 7 Astronaut (in a letter to the United Nations, 1978)

GODSPEED Gordo...Thanks for helping to get the ball rolliing...A TRUE Hero

Originally posted by FredT
Its truly starting to be the end of an era. For us, thi sis going to become more and more common as the heros of yesterday begin to die off. NASA really needs to take its cue from this. Gone are the larger than life heros: the Glens, Shephards, Armstrong et al.

Very true indeed. I'm 33 years old, so I didn't see much of the initial space exploration with my own eyes obviously. But I am old enough to have caught the tail end of a good bit of it so to speak. I grew up fascinated by the adventure, and the men who pushed it forward. My generation saw the launch of the shuttle at a very young age. The rapt attention I gave that program was due completely to the original Mercury crews.

It is the beginning of an end to a very special era. The passing of Gordon Cooper really drives the point home for me. It truly saddens me. Hard to explain, as I never met the man, but I do feel a loss.

Aside from names of some of the crew lost in the two shuttle tragedies, I am ashamed to say that I cannot name any other more "modern" astronauts in the NASA family. But when you mention Cooper, Glenn, Carpenter, Schirra, Slayton, Sheppard et all.. I'm right with you. Most people are. I think this says alot about what these men accomplished, and the special place they will always hold in the hearts of many Americans. ( Possibly many others worldwide)

[edit on 5-10-2004 by TCR]

I believe it was Mr. Cooper who said that UFOs were known to NASA and that a cover up was absolutely in place. It's unfortunate that we lost not only a national hero, but an insider who wasn't afraid to speak up on what is considered a taboo subject. God rest ye Gordon Cooper.