Commander James R. Collier relieved Captain Reis in July 1962. "Coontz" sailed with the Seventh Fleet in Asiatic waters, visiting Yokosuka, Kobe, Kure and Beppu in Japan and Hong Kong, B.C.C in China. During this time "Coontz" was also designated a stand-by recovery ship for NASA's Mercury-Atlas 8 space mission. During the space flight on 3 October 1962, Wally Schirra orbited the Earth at an altitude of . Although "Coontz" was listed as a stand-by ship for recovery operations, the vessel was not activated. "Coontz" returned to the U.S. in May 1963. In June 1963, "Coontz" demonstrated the kill capability of the Terrier surface-to-air missile in a sea power demonstration for President John F. Kennedy.