Reason and Radical

Gordo Cooper

One of the original seven Mercury astronauts, Gordon Cooper, died yesterday. That leaves just three still alive: Wally Schirra, Scott Carpenter and the oldest of them, John Glenn (born in 1921). I have very vivid childhood memories of watching each of the Mercury launches on TV. I'll have to watch "The Right Stuff" soon -- Dennis Quaid played Gordo, supposedly as a bit more of a flyboy than he really was. Remember his signature line? Who's the best pilot in the world? "You're looking at him."

posted by Leimodnu @ 9:57 AM