Behind the Scenes: Inside Astronaut Scott Carpenter's 1962 Mercury Flight (Photos)

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Onboard

NASA

Aboard the USS Intrepid, the prime recovery ship, astronaut Scott Carpenter, smiles at the crew after his recovery.

Accolades from the President

NASA

Following a successful second orbital mission, astronaut Scott Carpenter, prime pilot for the Mercury-Atlas 7 mission, talks with President John F. Kennedy. The mission was 4 hours and 56 minutes long.

Warm Welcome

NASA

Astronaut Scott Carpenter, prime pilot for the Mercury-Atlas 7 mission, is greeted by his wife and children after the splashdown.

Celebrating a Hero

NASA

In Boulder, Colorado, a post flight parade honors astronaut Scott Carpenter, pilot of the Mercury-Atlas 7 mission, and his wife.

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Christine Lunsford
Christine Lunsford
Producer and Contributing Writer

Christine Lunsford joined the Space.com team in 2010 as a freelance producer and later became a contributing writer, covering astrophotography images, astronomy photos and amazing space galleries and more. During her more than 10 years with Space.com, oversaw the site's monthly skywatching updates and produced overnight features and stories on the latest space discoveries. She enjoys learning about subjects of all kinds.