Former NASA astronaut Scott Carpenter, the second American to orbit Earth, will talk about his new book, "For Spacious Skies: The Uncommon Journey of A Mercury Astronaut" on Tuesday, March 4, at 5:30 p.m. at the University of Colorado at Boulder.Ìý
The talk is in the Old Main Chapel and is free and open to the public. Initially scheduled for January, the talk was rescheduled after a death in the Carpenter family.
Kris Stoever, Carpenter's daughter, co-authored the book and will take part in the discussion.
A CU-Boulder graduate, Carpenter grew up in Boulder and was one of seven Project Mercury astronauts in the early days of America's space program in the 1960s. The book covers the heart-stopping story of his flight aboard the Aurora 7 capsule that overshot its recovery point by 250 miles. Some of the book also is devoted to Carpenter's family story.
"We have anticipated this book with great excitement," said Kay Oltmans, director of the CU Heritage Center. "We are pleased to host Scott Carpenter and to continue to celebrate his achievements." The CU Heritage Center and Holland and Hart LLP are sponsors of the event.
Artifacts from Carpenter's career as an astronaut are on display in the Heritage Center's "CU in Space" exhibit, including a letter to Carpenter from his father wishing him luck on his Mercury flight, as well as a photograph of Carpenter's childhood home on Aurora and 7th streets in Boulder.
A book signing and reception will follow the talk in the Heritage Center on the third floor of Old Main. To reserve a book in advance call the Heritage Center at (303) 492-6329.
The CU Heritage Center is the university's history museum and is sponsored by the CU-Boulder Alumni Association. Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. For information, call the center at (303) 492-6329.