ASTRONAUT GORDON COOPER JR. DIES

Gordon Cooper Jr., one of America's first seven astronauts, died on October 4, 2004 at his home in Ventura, Calif. He was 77 years old. Cooper piloted the sixth and last flight of the Mercury program and later commanded Gemini 5. The file image shows the "Original Seven" Mercury astronauts. From left: Scott Carpenter, Cooper, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton. (UPI Photo/NASA)