M. Scott Carpenter, space pioneer, dies

M. Scott Carpenter, one of the original Mercury 7 astronauts, died Thursday, Oct. 10, at the age of 88.

In this photo, the Mercury program astronauts in their space suits pose for a picture in 1962.

1st row (L-R): Walter M. "Wally" Schirra, Donald K. "Deke" Slayton, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter; 2nd row (L-R): Alan Shepard, Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Gordon Cooper.

John Glenn is now the last surviving member of the group.

Scott Carpenter leaves Crew Quarters of Hangar S on his way to board the Aurora 7 spacecraft for the start of his MA-7 mission, May 24, 1962.

This photo is believed to have been taken about 1959 in the Fabrication Laboratory of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency in Huntsville. The astronauts are, from left, Gus Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, and Deke Slayton.

John Glenn, left, shakes Scott Carpenter's hand, May 24, 1962.

Carpenter inspects the honeycomb protective material on the main pressure bulkhead of his Aurora 7 spacecraft, ca. 1962.

Portrait of Astronaut Scott Carpenter, ca. 1964.

Astronaut Lieutenant Commander M. Scott Carpenter and his family visiting the White House. Astronaut Carpenter and his family are posing with President John F. Kennedy in the White House Fish Room, June 5, 1962.

Astronaut Scott Carpenter.

Adam Bettcher/Getty Images for Starkey Hearing Foundation

Former NASA Astronaut Scott Carpenter and wife attend the Starkey Hearing Foundation's "So The World May Hear" Awards Gala in St. Paul, Minnesota, July 24, 2011.

Mercury 7 astronauts Gordon Cooper (L), Wally Shirra (C) and Scott Carpenter (R) pose during a press conference at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, Oct. 28, 1998.

Former Sen. John Glenn, left, and Scott Carpenter, right, speak at the Kennedy Space Center, Feb. 17, 2012 in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Mercury Seven astronauts (L-R) Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, Wally Schirra and John Glenn talk about the early years of the manned space flight program during the unveiling ceremony of the bronze statue of America's first astronaut, Alan B. Shepard Jr., March 20, 2000 at the Astronaut Hall of Fame in Titusville, Fla.