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Scott Carpenter, pictured last year answering questions about his experience in space, has died at the age of 88. Picture: AP
When Scott Carpenter looked out from his spacecraft window in 1962, the view forever changed him. Below was a glowing blue planet wrapped in clouds - fragile, alive, and astonishingly beautiful. It was a sight that would define his life, and in many ways, his purpose.
Born in Boulder, Colorado, in 1925, Carpenter grew up fascinated by adventure and flight. After earning his wings as a naval aviator and test pilot, he was chosen as one of NASA's original Mercury Seven astronauts - a group of men who would carry America's dreams beyond the sky. Calm, intelligent, and courageous, Carpenter was the steady voice behind the famous phrase "Godspeed, John Glenn," before taking his own turn among the stars.
In May 1962, aboard the Aurora 7 capsule, Carpenter became the second American to orbit Earth. For nearly five hours he circled the planet three times, marvelling at continents, oceans, and horizons few had ever seen from above. His re-entry didn't go exactly to plan - he splashed down hundreds of kilometres off course - but his determination and calm thinking brought him safely home, proving once again the resilience of the human spirit.
Yet for Carpenter, exploration wasn't limited to outer space. Three years later, he descended into the depths of the Pacific Ocean as part of the U.S. Navy's SEALAB II project, spending 30 days living beneath the waves. From the stars to the sea, he sought to understand Earth from every angle, often saying that both realms - space and ocean - revealed "how small we are, and how much there is left to discover."
After retiring from active missions, Carpenter continued to inspire as an author, speaker, and environmental advocate. Working alongside ocean pioneer Jacques Cousteau, he campaigned to protect marine life and encouraged young people to pursue science not just for glory, but for the good of the planet he had seen from orbit.
He passed away in 2013 at the age of 88, leaving behind his wife, children, and a legacy written across the heavens and the deep. Scott Carpenter's story is one of courage, wonder, and humility - a reminder that true explorers never stop looking, learning, and sharing the beauty of what they find.
Today, we honour not just the astronaut, but the human being who helped us see our world more clearly - from above and below - and whose "Godspeed" still echoes in every dreamer's heart.
