Scott Carpenter
| Scott Carpenter | |
| Born | May 1, 1925, Boulder, Colorado |
|---|---|
| Died | October 10, 2013 |
| Nationality | American |
| Category | Astronaut |
| Roles | Mercury astronaut (Aurora 7, 1962); Navy aquanaut (SEALAB II) |
| Notable claim | Saw reflective particles that looked “exactly like snowflakes” in orbit |
| Status | Historical |
| Historical | |
Malcolm Scott Carpenter (1925–2013) was a Navy aviator and one of the Mercury Seven. He flew the second American orbital mission, Aurora 7, on May 24, 1962, and later became an aquanaut in the Navy’s SEALAB program.[1]
In orbit he described white, reflective particles that moved “at random” and looked “exactly like snowflakes.” Audio of his report was released in PURSUE Release 02.[2]
Assessment
By rapping on the inside wall of his capsule, Carpenter released a burst of the particles, showing they were frost flaking off the spacecraft. This is the basis of NASA’s explanation for the Mercury “fireflies.” Carpenter is sometimes quoted in UFO literature as saying astronauts were forbidden to discuss sightings; there is no reliable source for that quotation, and he denied seeing UFOs.
See also
Further reading
- Scott Carpenter & Kris Stoever (2002). For Spacious Skies: The Uncommon Journey of a Mercury Astronaut (Amazon)
References
- ^ NASA, Results of the Second U.S. Manned Orbital Space Flight, May 24, 1962.
- ^ U.S. Department of War (2026). PURSUE Release 02, NASA-UAP-D013.