43 a
NASA / Unidentified Photographer

Scott Carpenter arriving on Pad 14 to board his spacecraft

Mercury Atlas 7, May 24, 1962

Two vintage gelatin silver prints on fiber-based paper, each 20.6 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with NASA HQ captions numbered “62-MA7-92” and “62-MA7-96” on the versos

43 b
NASA / Unidentified Photographer

Scott Carpenter looking inside the Aurora spacecraft before launch

Mercury Atlas 7, May 24, 1962

Vintage gelatin silver print on fiber-based paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with NASA HQ caption on the verso, numbered “NASA S-62-2845” in black in top margin

43 c
NASA / Unidentified Photographer

Launch of the Atlas rocket carrying Scott Carpenter to Earth orbit

Mercury Atlas 7, May 24, 1962, 000:00:01 GET

Vintage gelatin silver print on fiber-based paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with NASA MSC caption on the verso (indicating the print was made in 1962-1963), numbered “NASA S-62-2849” in black in top margin

43 d
NASA / Unidentified Photographer

TV telescope tracking camera sequence showing separation of Atlas launch vehicle from Aurora 7 spacecraft

Mercury Atlas 7, May 24, 1962, 000:02:16 GET

Vintage gelatin silver print on fiber-based paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with NASA HQ caption numbered 62- MA-7-111” on the verso

43 e
NASA / Unidentified Photographer

Astronaut and Capsule Communicator (Capcom) Gus Grissom at his console in Mercury Control Center during Carpenter’s orbital flight

Mercury Atlas 7, May 24, 1962

Vintage gelatin silver print on fiber-based paper, 20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in), with NASA HQ caption numbered “62- MA-7-104” on the verso
20.3 x 25.4cm (8 x 10in)

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Lot Essay

43 a
Astronaut Scott Carpenter leaving Hangar S for Pad 14 at Cape Canaveral to begin Mercury-Atlas 7 mission. He is outfitted in spacesuit and is carrying portable air conditioner. He rode transfer van from Hangar S to Pad 14 (first photograph).

NASA, contractor, and USAF personnel applaud as Carpenter leaves the transfer van and walks toward reporters on his way to the elevator to board his Aurora 7 spacecraft atop the Atlas booster in predawn darkness at Pad 14 on May 24, 1962 (second photograph).

43 b
“McDonnell technicians along with astronauts John Glenn and Walter Schirra watch Carpenter prepare for his three-orbit mission” (NASA caption).

“It was dark when I rode the elevator up to the gantry to be inserted into the capsule. Wally [Schirra] was waiting to greet me after having checked out the capsule through the preliminary stage of the count. ‘Its’ ready, Scott,’ he said. ‘It’s all yours,’” recalled Scott Carpenter.

43 c
The Mercury-Atlas 7 spacecraft was launched from Pad 14, Cape Canaveral, at 07:45:00 a.m. EST on May 24, 1962.

5,4,3,2,1,0.
000:00:01 Carpenter: I feel the lift-off, the clock has started.
000:00:04 Capcom (Mission Control): Roger.
000:00:06 Carpenter: Loud and clear, Gus.
000:00:07.5 Capcom: Roger, Aurora 7, stand by for - the time hack.
000:00:11 Carpenter: Roger.
000:00:12.5 Carpenter: Little bit of shaking, pretty smooth.

43 d
The separation occurred at approximate altitude of 55 miles. The tracking camera was located at Patrick AFB and had a 500 inch lens.

000:02:16 Carpenter: Roger. I felt staging. Do you confirm?
000:02:19 Capcom (Mission Control): Staging?
000:02:20 Carpenter: Do you confirm staging?
000:02:22 Capcom: Aurora 7, we confirm staging.
000:02:24 Carpenter: Roger, g peaked at 6.3.