Cooper, Gordon, 1927-2004

Variant names

Hide Profile

Gordon Cooper (b. March 6, 1927-d. Oct. 4, 2004) was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He was selected as a Mercury astronaut in April 1959, and on May 15-16, 1963, he piloted the "Faith 7" spacecraft on a 22-orbit mission which concluded the operational phase of Project Mercury. He later served as command pilot of the 8-day 120-revolution Gemini 5 mission which began on August 21, 1965. It was on this flight that he and pilot Charles Conrad established a new space endurance record by traveling a distance of 3,312,993 miles in an elapsed time of 190 hours and 56 minutes. Cooper also became the first man to make a second orbital flight and thus won for the United States the lead in man-hours in space. He served as backup command pilot for Gemini 12 and as backup commander for Apollo X. Cooper retired from the Air Force and NASA in 1970.

From the description of Cooper, Gordon, 1927-2004 (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). naId: 10567925

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. GEMINI/TITAN 5 LAUNCH, CAPE KENNEDY, FLORIDA National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. MAJOR COOPER'S STORY National Archives at College Park
referencedIn MERCURY SPACECRAFT 20 FAITH SEVEN ATLAS MA-9 ON BOARD FOOTAGE- PILOT OBSERVER National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. NASA PRESS CONFERENCE OF MERCURY ASTRONAUT TEAM WASHINGTON D.C., 9 APRIL 1959 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. PROJECT, quot;MERCURYquot; National Archives at College Park
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. GEMINI RECOVERY GT-2 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Fox Movietone News Collection. 1957 - 1963. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 1957 - 1963. MOVIETONE NEWS National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Cooper, Gordon, 1927-2004. A sharp knife. Texas Tech University Libraries, Academic Library
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. ASTRONAUTS AT CAPE CANAVERAL National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. ASTRONAUTS, EDWARDS AFB, CALIFORNIA National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006Series: Source Files on Project Mercury, 1952 - 1968. Fact Sheets and Press Releases for Mercury Atlas 6 (MA-6). Seven Astronauts Were Needed for Seven Vital Jobs. National Archives at Fort Worth
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Headquarters' Films Relating to Aeronautics, 1962 - 1981. The World Was There, 1965. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. MAJOR L. GORDAN COOPER, JR. STORY National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. PRESIDENT JOHNSON PRESENTS HARMON TROPHIES National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Edward Purdy Ney Papers, 1941-1996 University of Minnesota Libraries. University Archives [uarc]
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Information Agency. 1900 - 2003. Audio Recordings. 1942 - 1999. YEAR IN SPACE National Archives at College Park
creatorOf Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Visibility Laboratory. Films, 1965. University of California, San Diego, UC San Diego Library; UCSD Library
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. Mercury astronaut meeting, Andrews AFR, Maryland National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Stock Footage, ca. 1960 - ca. 1987. PROJECT MERCURY ASTRONAUTS IN PROCEDURES TRAINER. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Stock Footage, ca. 1960 - ca. 1987. MERCURY ASTRONAUTS DURING WEIGHTLESSNESS TRAINING AT EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. MAJOR COOPER'S MA-9 FLIGHT National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. LAUNCH OF MERCURY-ATLAS 9, TEST 125 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn [Astronauts] Gordon Cooper, Scott Carpenter, Wally Schirra, and John Glenn: 40th Anniversary of Americans in Orbit National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. FUNERAL SERVICES FOR ASTRONAUTS GRISSOM AND CHAFFEE, ARLINGTON CEMETERY, VIRGINIA, AND ANDREWS AFB, MARYLAND National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. Astronaut Malcolm S. Carpenter receives NASA DSM, Patrick AFB and Cape Canaveral, Florida National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Fox Movietone News Collection. 1957 - 1963. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 1957 - 1963. MOVIETONE NEWS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. Astronauts' visit and GLV-12 ceremony, Baltimore, Maryland National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. MERCURY-ATLAS 9 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. ASTRONAUT'S PRESS CONFERENCE, PATRICK AFB, FLORIDA National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. MAJOR LEROY G. COOPER, JR., RECEIVES HIS ASTRONAUT WINGS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Hearst Metrotone News, Inc., Collection. 1937 - 1942. News of the Day Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1963 - 12/1967. News of the Day (Sept. 19) National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Smithers, W. D. (Wilfred Dudley), 1895-1981. Smithers, W. D. Collection, 1907-1930 University of Texas Libraries
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. ASTRONAUTS RECEIVE COLLIER TROPHY National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Hearst Metrotone News, Inc., Collection. 1937 - 1942. News of the Day Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1963 - 12/1967. News of the Day (Sept. 1) National Archives at College Park
referencedIn [Astronauts] Gordon Cooper, Scott Carpenter, Wally Schirra, and John Glenn: 40th Anniversary of Americans in Orbit National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Papers of John F. Kennedy: President's Office Files. 1/20/1961 - 11/22/1963. Subjects. 1/20/1961 - 11/22/1963. Astronauts: L. Gordon Cooper. 1961 - 1963. Message, Khruschev to Kennedy Congratulations on flight of Scott Cooper May 17, 1963 John F. Kennedy Library
referencedIn Papers of John F. Kennedy: President's Office Files. 1/20/1961 - 11/22/1963. Subjects. 1/20/1961 - 11/22/1963. Astronauts: L. Gordon Cooper. 1961 - 1963. Kennedy reply to Khruschev re: Scott Cooper John F. Kennedy Library
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. Project Mercury Astronaut Training National Archives at College Park
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. GEMINI RECOVERY GT-2 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn The Astronauts: Countdown for Tomorrow - El Astronaut National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Ney, Edward Purdy, 1920-. Edward Purdy Ney Papers, 1941-1996. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Universal Newsreel Volume 36, Release 42 United States. National Archives and Records Administration
referencedIn PACIFIC FLEET RECOVERY ACTIVITIES National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. MERCURY-ATLAS 130D ROLLOUT National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Fox Movietone News Collection. 1957 - 1963. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 1957 - 1963. MOVIETONE NEWS National Archives at College Park
editorOf Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Stock Footage, ca. 1960 - ca. 1987. MERCURY SPACECRAFT 13 MA-6 JOHN GLENN PARADE IN HAMPTON, VA, 1962. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. ZERO GRAVITY TESTS IN C-131, WRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, OHIO 2-4 JUNE 1959 National Archives at College Park
referencedIn General Records of the Department of the Navy. 1941 - 2004. Moving Images Relating to Military Activities. 1947 - 1980. ASTRONAUT COOPERquot;S ARRIVAL AT HICKAM AFB National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. ASTRONAUTS AT STEAD AFB, NEVADA National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. DEDICATION CEREMONY, GRISSOM AFB, AND LAFAYETTE, INDIANA National Archives at College Park
referencedIn PACIFIC FLEET DEPLOYMENT AND POST RECOVERY ACTIVITIES National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Marshall Star, 1960 - 2006 National Archives at Atlanta
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. Maj Leroy G. Cooper receives award and addresses Congress, Washington, DC National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Fox Movietone News Collection. 1957 - 1963. Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 1957 - 1963. MOVIETONE NEWS National Archives at College Park
editorOf Records of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1903 - 2006. Stock Footage, ca. 1960 - ca. 1987. MECURY SPACECRAFT 7 MR-3 ON BOARD PERISCOPE FOOTAGE, AND ASTRONAUT SHEPARD PAST MISSION ACTIVITY, 5 6/5 19/1961 1961. National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. MERCURY ASTRONAUTS ZERO-G INDOCTRINATION FLIGHTS, EDWARDS AFB, CALIFORNIA National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Hearst Metrotone News, Inc., Collection. 1937 - 1942. News of the Day Motion Picture Newsreel Films. 10/1963 - 12/1967. News of the Day (Sept. 22) National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of the U.S. Information Agency. 1900 - 2003. Audio Recordings. 1942 - 1999. IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE COOPER FLIGHT National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Rocket Garden Dedication with the Mercury Astronauts: Long Version - Interviews with Gordon Cooper, Scott Carpenter, Wally Schirra, and John Glenn National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. MAJOR LEROY G. COOPER RECEIVES ASTRONAUT WINGS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. SURVIVAL TRAINING FOR U.S ASTRONAUTS National Archives at College Park
referencedIn Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations. 1900 - 2003. Moving Images Relating to Military Aviation Activities. 1947 - 1984. ASTRONAUTS COOPER, BORMAN AND STAFFORD RECEIVE ASTRONAUT WINGS, WASHINGTON, D.C National Archives at College Park
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Charles Conrad, Jr. person
memberOf Gemini V (Spacecraft) corporateBody
associatedWith Ney, Edward Purdy, 1920- person
associatedWith Project Gemini (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Project Mercury (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Visibility Laboratory. corporateBody
associatedWith Smithers, W. D. (Wilfred Dudley), 1895-1981. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Subject
Manned space flight
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1927-03-06

Death 2004-10-04

Americans

English

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6mg9pnf

Ark ID: w6mg9pnf

SNAC ID: 13319895