Scott Carpenter is considered a pioneer of modern space exploration.  Scott was one of the seven original astronauts selected for Project Mercury.  Project Mercury was the United States' answer to the Soviet Union's space program.  Carpenter was the second American to orbit Earth and only the fourth American in space. 

After graduating high school, he was commissioned in the U.S. Navy in 1949.  Carpenter served in the Korean War flying anti-submarine, ship surveillance, and aerial mining, and ferret missions.

After joining NASA, Carpenter flew into space on May 24, 1962. He piloted his Aurora 7 spacecraft through three revolutions of the earth, reaching a maximum altitude of 164 miles. The spacecraft landed in the Atlantic Ocean about 1000 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral after 4 hours and 54 minutes of flight time.

After sustaining a motorbike accident, Carpenter retired from NASA and went back to work with the Navy. Upon retirement from the Navy in 1969, after twenty-five years of service, Carpenter founded and was chief executive officer of Sear Sciences, Inc., a corporation that developed programs aimed at enhanced utilization of ocean resources and improved health of the planet.

Today, Carpenter continues to apply his knowledge of aerospace and ocean engineering as a consultant to industry and the private sector. He lectures frequently in the U.S. and abroad on the history and future of ocean and space technology, the impact of scientific and technological advance on human affairs, and man's continuing search for excellence.

He has written two novels, titled "The Steel Albatross" and "Deep Flight." Some of Carpenter's awards include the Navy's Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, U.S. Navy Astronaut Wings, the University of Colorado Recognition Medal, the Collier Trophy, the New York City Gold Medal of Honor, the Elisha Kent Kane Medal, the Ustica Gold Trident, and the Boy Scouts of America Silver Buffalo.