A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives. On April 9, 1959, NASA introduced the “Mercury Seven,” its first seven astronauts: Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John ...
“Leroy Gordon Cooper, Jr., (Colonel, USAF, Ret.) [bio] an original Mercury 7 astronaut, died earlier today at his home in Ventura, Calif. He was 77 years old. Cooper piloted the sixth and last flight ...