NAME: Leroy Gordon Cooper, Jr., Colonel USAF (Ret.)

NASA Astronaut

BIRTH: Shawnee, Oklahoma, March 6, 1927. His father, Leroy Gordon Cooper, Sr. is deceased. His mother, Hattie Cooper resides in Carbondale, Colorado.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Brown hair, blue eyes, 5 feet 8 inches; weight: 155 lbs.

EDUCATION:

Primary and Secondary Schools: Shawnee, Oklahoma

Murray, Kentucky

Colleges: University of Hawaii

University of Maryland – European Extension

U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology

Advance Level: Eleven years graduate level training in Space Technology,

Space Mechanics, Lunar Geology, Spacecraft Design,

Spacecraft Check Out and Flight Testing with NASA

Degrees: B.S.A.E.- Air Force Institute of Technology

Dr. of Science – Oklahoma City University

Other Schools: Graduate of U.S.A.F. Jet Pilot School

Graduate of U.S. Navy Underwater Demolition

Team School

Graduate of U.S.N. Helicopter School

HOBBIES: His hobbies include treasure hunting, archeology, racing, flying, skiing, boating, hunting, and fishing.

ORGANIZATIOINS: Member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots; American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics; American Astronautical Society; Blue Lodge Masons, York Rite Masons, Scottish Rite Masons, Royal Order of Jesters, the Sojourners, the Rotary Club, Daedaleans, Confederate Air Force, the Boy Scouts of America, and the Girl Scouts of America.

AWARDS:

The Air Force Legion of Merit

The Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross

The Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross Cluster

The NASA Exceptional Service Medal

The NASA Distinguished Service Medal

USAF Command Astronaut Wings

The Collier Trophy

The Harmon Trophy

The Scottish Rite 33

The York Rite Knight of the Purple Cross

The DeMolay Legion of Honor

The John F. Kennedy Trophy

The Ivan E. Kincheloe Trophy

The Air Force Association Trophy

The Primus Trophy

The John Montgomery Trophy

The General Thomas E. White Trophy

The Association of Aviation Writers Award

The Columbus Medal

The Silver Antelope

The Sport Fishing Society of Spain Award

RECORDS AND FIRSTS:

1963 - Flew 22 orbits (solo) in Mercury 9 (Faith 7)

1963 - Gave one of the opening addresses to the first meeting the League

of African Nations (from space)

1963 - Used the first television camera in space

1963 – First pilot-controlled re-entry from space

1963-1965 – First Military man to address the Joint Sessions of Congress twice

1965 – Flew 122 orbits as command pilot of Gemini 5

1965 – First man to fly two orbital flights

1965 – First man to fly a fuel cell in space

1965 – First man to fly a radar set in space

1965 – First man to track a typhoon from space

1965 – Established the World record of most hours in space for the U.S.

1965 – National Aeronautic Association Record Distance in Earth

1965 – National Aeronautic Association Record Duration in earth Orbit

FLYING EXPERIENCE:

7000 hours total time

4000 hours jet time

Flies all types of commercial and general aviation airplane and helicopters

MILITARY EXPERIENCE:

1945-1946 – United States Marine Corps.

1946-1949 – Attended the University of Hawaii – obtained commission

1949 - Called to active duty USAF (for pilot training)

1950-1954 – Fighter pilot with 86^th Fighter-Bomber group in Germany

1954-1956 – Attended the Air Force Institute of Technology

1956-1957 – Attended the USAF Experimental Flight Test School

1957-1959 – Served as Experimental Flight Test Engineer and Flight Test

Pilot at the Air Force Flight Test Center at Edwards AFB,

California

1959 – Selected in First Group of seven astronauts for the NASA Mercury

Program

May 15-16, 1963 – Command Pilot on MA9 – “Faith 7”

August 21-28, 1965 – October 1966 – Served as back up command pilot on

Gemini 5

October 1965 – October 1966 – Served as a back up Command Pilot on

Apollo 10

July 31, 1970 – Retired from the Air Force and the Space Program

MILITARY TECHNICAL AND MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE:

1956-1959 – Experimental Flight Engineer and Test Pilot at the Air Force Flight Test Center. Served as Project Manager on several flight development projects. Helped to develop new techniques of flight testing and new aircraft stability parameters.

1950-1970 – In addition to training for Space Flight, he has had extensive experience in test project management from the drawing board to the flight test phase of check out and qualification for various major systems of the Space Program.

BUSINESS TECHNICAL AND MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE:

1962-1967 – Performance Unlimited, Inc. – President – Manufactured race engines, fiberglass boats, distributed marine engines and products, raced high performance boats.

1963-1967 – GCR, Inc. – President – Designed, tested and raced championship cars at Indianapolis and other USAC tracks, conducted tire tests for Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, pioneered turbine engine installation on cars.

1965-1970 – Teletest, Inc. – President – Designed, installed and tested various systems using advanced Telemetry.

1966-1969 – Doubloon, Inc. – Participated with Doubloon Inc. on design, construction, and utilization of new types of Treasure Hunting equipment.

1968-1969 – Cosmos, Inc. – Participated with Cosmos, Inc. on Archeology exploration projects.

1968-1970 – Profile Race Team – Part owner and race project manager, designed constructed and raced high performance boats.

1968-1970 – Republic Corp. Technical Consultant – Technical consultant for corporate acquisitions and public relations.

1967-1969 – Thompson Industries Technical Consultant – Technical Consultant for design and construction of various automotive production items for General Motors, Ford and Chrysler Motor Companies.

1970-1972 – Canaveral International, Inc. – Member of Board of Directors and Technical Consultant for developing technical products, public relations in land development projects.

1970 – President – Gordon Cooper & Associates, Inc. – President for consultant firm specializing technical projects from airline and aerospace fields to land and hotel development projects.

1970-1974 – APECO – Board of Director for corporation which produces and markets modular homes, computer systems, office systems, copy machines and boats and marine equipment.

1972-1973 – Campco – Member of Board of Directors and Technical consultant firm specializing technical projects from airline and aerospace fields to land hotel development projects.

1972-1973 – LowCom Systems, Inc. – Board of Directors and Technical Consultant for design and production of various advanced electronic systems.

1972-1973 – Aerofoil Systems, Inc. – Board of Directors and Technical Consultant for design and construction of lifting, inflatable, steer able foils which could land cargo and/or personnel at a precise spot.

1973-1974 – Craftech Construction, Inc. – Vice President and member of the Board of Directors – Design and construction of economical homes, garages, storage buildings, and hangers of Craftboard and fiberglass.

1973-Present – Constant Energy Systems, Inc. – Development of a large energy system to use for metropolitan power and ship engines without use of petrochemicals. Development and sales of improvements to automotive engines to increase their efficiency.

1975 – Became Vice President for Research and Development for Walter E. Disney Enterprises, Inc., the research and development subsidiary of Walt Disney Productions. Located in Glendale, California.