Surly Bonds, Slipped

Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter's death today leaves just one of the original seven, John Glenn, still living.

Carpenter is the only astronaut I ever met -- a buddy was involved in some PR work for an OKC-area science and math charter school and had invited me over when Carpenter was giving a presentation to the students, most of whom were younger elementary age. They were at first restless, since he was basically a grandfather-looking guy who had done something that was ancient history to them, not even being the first man to do it. But then he looked at them.

"You know, with our program today, you all are just about the right age to be the people who go to Mars."

They were hooked on the rest of his brief presentation about space and the space program and what was going in it at the time.

Carpenter also explored "inner space," helping pioneer underwater exploration and living. He once spent 30 days living in an underwater habitat.