Leroy Gordon "Gordo" Cooper Jr. (March 6, 1927 – October 4, 2004) was an American aerospace engineer, test pilot, United States Air Force pilot, and the youngest of the seven original astronauts in Project Mercury, the first human space program of the United States. Cooper learned to fly as a child, and after service in the United States Marine Corps during World War II, he was commissioned into the United States Air Force in 1949. After service as a fighter pilot, he qualified as a test pilot in 1956, and was selected as an astronaut in 1959.
In 1963 Cooper piloted the longest and last Mercury spaceflight, Mercury-Atlas 9. During that 34-hour mission he became the first American to spend an entire day in space, the first to sleep in space, and the last American launched on an entirely solo orbital mission. Despite a series of severe equipment failures, he managed to successfully complete the mission under manual control, guiding his spacecraft, which he named Faith 7, to a splashdown just 4 miles (6.4 km) ahead of the recovery ship. Cooper became the first astronaut to make a second orbital flight when he flew as Command Pilot of Gemini 5 in 1965. Along with Pilot Pete Conrad, he set a new space endurance record by traveling 3,312,993 miles (5,331,745 km) in 190 hours and 56 minutes—just short of eight days—showing that astronauts could survive in space for the length of time necessary to go from the Earth to the Moon and back.
Cooper liked to race cars and boats, and entered the $28,000 Salton City 500 miles (800 km) boat race, and the Southwest Championship Drag Boat races in 1965, and the 1967 Orange Bowl Regatta with fire fighter Red Adair. In 1968, he entered the 24 Hours of Daytona, but NASA management ordered him to withdraw due to the dangers involved. After serving as backup commander of the Apollo 10 mission, he was superseded by Alan Shepard, and retired from NASA and the Air Force with the rank of colonel in 1970.
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Some of their strengths
Gordon Cooper has many admirable traits.
Based on spiritual traditions from around the world, they are someone who can be described as Brave, Confident, Optimistic, Intelligent, Creative, Independent, and Energetic.
Soulful and Understanding
According to Mysticism’s Astrology tradition, Gordon Cooper is someone who is a soulful, understanding, and conscious person, who combines smarts with a deep talent for creativity and imagination. A person who really cares about helping others make the most of what they have.
Helpful and Supportive
Based on Daoism’s Ba-Zi or ‘Chinese Zodiac’ tradition, people who know Gordon Cooper well know them as someone who can be accepting, supportive, and productive, like a garden.
Independent and Organized
According to Hinduism’s Jyotisha or ‘Vedic Astrology’ tradition, many would also describe Gordon Cooper as someone who is independent, organized, inventive, and generous.
A person who is curious and a loves learning, who seems to always know what to say, who has an optimism that can overcome any difficult situation, and who seems to be able to master almost any skill.
Stable and Creative
Based on the Mayan Tzolk’in or ‘Mayan Astrology’ tradition, Gordon Cooper is someone who thrives in volatile situations, and who tends to be a source of stability and comfort for others who are experiencing challenging times .
They are also someone who is creative, expressive, and insightful, and who has a pioneering spirit with self-determination and natural artistic expression.
Creative and Imaginative
According to Judaism’s Kabbalah tradition, Gordon Cooper tends to be someone who is sensitive, imaginative, creative, and somewhat of a dreamer. Who is intuitive and compassionate, and who has a friendly, easygoing, calming and relaxing effect on people and for whom friends and family mean the world.
Some of Gordon Cooper's challenges
While Gordon Cooper has many strengths, nobody is perfect. They also have some challenging traits they need to manage.
For example, Gordon Cooper can be Indecisive, Unrealistic, Short-tempered, Impulsive, Arrogant, Status-seeking, and Domineering.
Indecisive and Unrealistic
One of Gordon Cooper's key challenges is that they are someone who can come across as indecisive and unrealistic.
Gordon Cooper must also exercise caution as they can be short-tempered and aggressive, and can have difficulty dealing with responsibility, authority, or criticism.
Domineering and Impatient
Gordon Cooper is someone who can be demanding, egotistical, and controlling, can have a lack of judgment regarding personal finances, be argumentative and stubborn, and who can have a tendency to be withdrawn and spend time in self-imposed isolation.
Lethargic and Unrealistic
Finally, Gordon Cooper also can be too soft, lazy and lethargic, and who can have difficulty finding others who share a similarly dreamy outlook on life.
