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Scott Carpenter; Space ExplorationBiblio.com

Space Exploration History Scott Carpenter Inscribed Mercury Seven Portrait

1962réf. 40401962. Carpenter Scott. Inscribed portrait photograph documents the public image of an original Mercury Seven astronaut who became the second American to orbit Earth during the May 24 1962 Mercury Atlas 7 mission. Piloting the spacecraft Aurora 7 Carpenter completed three Earth orbits and conducted photographic and scientific experiments during the fourth crewed flight of Project Mercury. The photograph supports research into the visual presentation of early astronauts Project Mercury Cold War patriotism and the circulation of personalized astronaut portraits during the formative years of American human spaceflight. NASA identifies Carpenter as one of the seven astronauts selected for its first astronaut class in 1959. Black-and-white portrait photograph undated. 8 x 10 inches. Carpenter appears in a suit and tie beside an American flag presenting a formal civilian likeness that joins astronaut celebrity with conventional symbols of national service. Inscribed and signed in black marker at the upper right "To Daniel Marcus Very Best Wishes Scott Carpenter." The personalized dedication identifies the photograph's original recipient and distinguishes it from an unsigned publicity portrait. The juxtaposition of Carpenter's business attire and the flag emphasizes the civic and representative role assigned to the Mercury astronauts as visible embodiments of the United States space program. Carpenter had served as John Glenn's backup for the first American orbital mission before flying Aurora 7 becoming the fourth American in space and the second to orbit Earth. His mission lasted approximately four hours and fifty-four minutes and concluded with a landing substantially beyond the planned recovery area followed by his retrieval and transfer to the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid. No specific defects are identified in the supplied description; image inscription and signature remain dark and clear near fine. Personalized patriotic portrait connecting a founding Mercury astronaut with the public culture of the early American space program. unknown