Gordon Cooper, Astronaut, Dies, Reports NASA

CNN ^

[Frank_Discussion]

I'm as upset as anyone about Gordo leaving us, but "the right stiff" is undeniably funny. I'm betting he's already laughing about it himself!

Godspeed and R.I.P., Gordon Cooper.

[7.62 x 51mm]

RIP, Coop.

[VOA]

It's the truth: Dennis Quaid will never top that scene. I get a little teary thinking about it.

D-mn straight.
It was a fine turn of acting...Quaid played the consummate hot-shot pilot, then for
a moment really remembers he's not the only great pilot. But just for a moment!

The scene gives me a bit of a sad feeling when I hear that we may right now be in the
process of building our last manned fighter.

[VOA]

If any poster made Gordon Cooper smile tonight...it was you (with that beautiful typo!)

[Tallguy]

He served as backup command pilot for Gemini 12 and as backup commander for Apollo X.

I didn't know that Gordon Cooper was still in the crew rotation during Apollo? I thought that he retired during Gemini...

[Joe Hadenuf]

Hey, there's always Queerguy, or My Daddy the Mom, or the new one, Slutty Housewives on drugs.....

[RadioAstronomer]

Awww Damn! :-(

[woofie]

"The Right Stuff" is the best

RIP Gordo

[Intolerant in NJ]

Everyone should rent "The Right Stuff" in Cooper's honor. He's portrayed by a young and wicked Dennis Quaid...and that great line when Gordo finally went into space (approximately) - "and on that day Gordon Cooper became the greatest pilot who had ever flown"........

[asgardshill]

John Glenn drinks cocktails with God
In a cafe in downtown Saigon

He's still alive, last time I checked. And the only former astronaut from that era for whom I don't hold the highest respect. He gave Clinton a pass on his sink emperor exploits.

[MinuteGal]

It's so hard to picture Gordon as 77. To me, he'll always remain that dashing young man in his flying machine.

Janet Leigh passed on today, also.

Sad day for us nostalgic folks.

Leni

[KillTime]

Salute to Gordo! I also remember in the early years of the David Letterman show when Dave would call him up to answer some obscure question and Gordo would have the answer followed by some gung-ho comment re his days in the Mercury program. It was great that Gordo played along.

[Mjaye]

Wow, thanks for posting that scene, and your're right, Dennis Quaid was at his finest portraying Gordon Cooper. The kind of greatness epitomized by those guys probably couldn't happen these days in quite the same way, though it's ironic that the private space venture succeeded at the same time we lose G.C. I'm just thankful to have lived while it was happening.

[SuziQ]

I loved Dennis Quaid's portrayal of Gordo in The Right Stuff. The best part was when he was asked who was the best pilot he knew. He got a faraway look in his eye and began to actually describe Chuck Yeager, then he stopped himself and got a cocky look on his face and said "I'm the best pilot!!

It was great. RIP Gordo.

[Mjaye]

Thanks, I was just going to post "High Flight" when I saw yours. It has hung on my wall since I learned to fly to remind me how humbling it is to share the experience with all those who have flown in our history. It boggles the mind to extrapolate the thrill of flying a small plane to what these guys did.

[janetgreen]

Thanks, I also thought it would be appropriate to post in honor of Gordon Cooper. Today I remembered one of the greats that didn't get to participate in the astronaut program - Steve Yeager.

[Mjaye]

He's probably having a drink with Pancho, waiting for everyone else to arrive.

[KevinDavis]

God Speed Gordo....

[Mjaye]

I haven't seen that, but will make a point to do so. When we saw the Tom Hanks Apollo 13 movie at the theater some years ago, we came home and immediately watched The Right Stuff. And I thought *that* was a marathon!!!

[RadioAstronomer]

Deke Slayton, Gus Grissom, Alan Sheppard, and now Gordo Cooper. Only three of the original seven are left.