Godspeed, Scott Carpenter
Posted by: JamieWednesday on 11 October 2013
(One of my all time favourite photographs btw)
In connection with this, I've just discovered that the Thunderbirds pilots were named after five of the 'Mercury 7' astronaut intake.
Scott Tracy - Scott Carpenter;
Virgil - Virgil (Gus) Grissom;
Alan - Alan Shepard;
Gordon - Gordon Cooper;
John - John Glenn.
Deke Slayton - who was initially withdrawn from the program on medical grounds, but flew in 1975 - and Wally Schirra were not represented.
Fraser
In connection with this, I've just discovered that the Thunderbirds pilots were named after five of the 'Mercury 7' astronaut intake.
Scott Tracy - Scott Carpenter;
Virgil - Virgil (Gus) Grissom;
Alan - Alan Shepard;
Gordon - Gordon Cooper;
John - John Glenn.
Deke Slayton - who was initially withdrawn from the program on medical grounds, but flew in 1975 - and Wally Schirra were not represented.
Fraser
Perhaps Gil Grissom (CSI) also derived his name from this source?
John
Another childhood hero gone. I'm sad.