Alan Shepard - First American in Space

On May 5, 1961, NASA launched the first American into space.  Alan Shepard took his historic ride in a Freedom 7 capsule, powered by a Redstone missile rocket.  Shepard traveled to an altitude of 116 miles and returned to Earth in 15 minutes.  From his capsule, Shepard saw the curvature of the Earth, and described a view never seen by any American before.

On May 8, Shepard traveled to the White House to receive a NASA Distinguished Service Medal from President John F. Kennedy. Three weeks later, JFK would announce to a joint session of Congress the goal of sending an American safely to the Moon by the end of the decade.

Tomorrow is the anniversary of the Mercury-Redstone 3 flight, so as you enjoy your first Saturday in May, look up to the skies and raise your glass to Alan Shepard - first American in space.  Happy weekend!

More Alan Shepard from NASA.gov

Source: nasa.gov

43 Notes/ Hide

  1. lsquare28 reblogged this from ourpresidents and added:
    And a decade later, he walked on the Moon!
  2. atthesharpend reblogged this from historicalawesomeness
  3. weareinheritors reblogged this from ourpresidents and added:
    did there, goddamn Bioware.
  4. sergionavarrete reblogged this from ourpresidents and added:
    Alan Shepard - First American in Space On May 5, 1961, NASA launched the first American into space. Alan Shepard took...
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