How About...50 Years Ago in Space

Fifty years ago, an astronaut named Alan B. Shepard

became the first US man in space

May 5th, 1961 9:34 a.m. EST. Freedom 7 capsule. Barely 23 days before, Soviet Yuri Gagarin had became the first man in space, and now it was time for Alan Shepard to be the second but first US man in space.

Alan B.Shepard, born November 18th 1923 became the first US man in space. He served during WWII and after that became navy test pilot.

On May 5th 1961 he became the first US man in space. He reached an altitude of 187.488576 km for a total time of 15 minutes and 28 seconds. 

The purpose of this project (Mercury) was to find out and determine man´s capabilities in a space environment to which he will be subject upon going into and returning from space. (NASA)



 Here is an image of Alan Shepard's trajectory.

Image taken from NASA

Here are some words from Alan Shepard: 

thanks to NASA for the video



Now here is the video "50 Years Ago: Alan Shepard, First American in Space"

Hope you like it.

And remember, when you look  up into the sky, 50 years ago, there was the first US man in space..flying and hoping to come back home.


Thanks!

I.