Senate Resolution 34 Summary

• Recognizes the life and accomplishments of Gordon Cooper, an Oklahoma-born astronaut and one of the original seven Mercury Program astronauts

• Declares May 15, 2013, as "Gordon Cooper Day" in Oklahoma, marking the 50th anniversary of his 1963 spaceflight aboard Mercury-Atlas 9 (Faith 7)

• Highlights Cooper's achievements including orbiting Earth 22 times, logging over 34 hours in space on his first mission, and commanding Gemini 5 with Pete Conrad on an eight-day mission

• Notes Cooper was born in Shawnee, Oklahoma on March 6, 1927, retired from NASA and the Air Force in July 1970, and passed away on October 4, 2004, at age 77

• Directs distribution of the resolution to Shawnee Mayor Wes Mainord; recognizes that Shawnee named its Career Technology Center and Highway 18 after Cooper