Gordon Cooper was an American aerospace engineer and test pilot who is best known for being one of the seven original Mercury astronauts. He was born Leroy Gordon Cooper Jr. on March 6, 1927 in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He was the youngest of three children born to parents Leroy Gordon Cooper Sr. and Hattie Lee Cooper.
Growing up, Gordon had an interest in aviation. He was an excellent student and earned a degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Kansas in 1951. He joined the United States Air Force in 1950 and served as an experimental test pilot. He was one of the first pilots to fly the F-86 Sabrejet fighter aircraft.
In 1959, Cooper was selected as one of the seven original Mercury astronauts. He was the first American astronaut to make a solo space flight. On May 15th, 1963, Cooper piloted the Faith 7 spacecraft and orbited the Earth 22 times in 34 hours. This mission marked the end of the Mercury program and made Cooper the last American to fly solo in space.
After the Mercury program, Cooper served as a backup pilot for the Gemini 5 mission and as a Gemini 8 capsule communicator. He was the command pilot for the Gemini 5 mission and was responsible for the first successful rendezvous of two spacecraft in orbit.
In 1966, Cooper left NASA and joined the Air Force Reserve. He retired from the Air Force in 1970 as a colonel. After leaving the Air Force, Cooper joined the private sector and worked as a consultant for aerospace companies. He worked as a project manager for the Apollo program and was responsible for overseeing the development of the lunar module.
Throughout his career, Cooper was highly decorated for his achievements. He was awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Harmon International Trophy. He was also inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame in 1977.
Gordon Cooper passed away on October 4, 2004 at the age of 77. He is remembered as one of the original Mercury astronauts and as a pioneer of the US space program. His courage and pioneering spirit are remembered and honored to this day.
