Boost
ABOUT
One of NASA's original seven Mercury astronauts, he spent 34 hours alone in a space capsule, demonstrating the possibility of reaching the moon.He set an endurance record on an eight-day Gemini 5 mission, traveling more than 3.3 million miles over the course of the trip.Gus Grissom was another one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts.
BEFORE FAMEHe served in the Marine Corps and as a test pilot in the U.S. Air Force before joining Project Mercury.
PERSONAL LIFEHe grew up in Shawnee, Oklahoma, until his senior year of high school when his father was called up by the military and the family moved to Kentucky.
FUN FACTSAstronaut Gordon Cooper Jr. were born on Sunday, birthstone is Aquamarine, the seaon was Winter in the Chinese year of Rabbite, it is 64 days until Gordon Cooper Jr. next birthday.
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Jan. 01 1974
