"ALAN SHEPARD HIT TWO GOLF BALLS ON THE MOON"

APOLLO 14 LIFTS OFF FROM THE CAPE

Cape Kennedy, Florida (JFK+50) On January 31, 1971, Alan B. Shepard, Jr., the first American in space, Edgar Mitchell and Stuart Roosa lifted off on Apollo 14 from launchpad 39-A here at the Cape.

Apollo 14 was the first mission to land in the lunar highlands.  There were two extra vehicle activities scheduled and "at the end of the second EVA, Alan Shepard hit two golf balls" on the surface of the moon.  96 pounds of lunar samples were also collected.

Apollo 14 safely splashed down on earth, February 6, 1971.

SOURCE

"Apollo 14 (AS-509)," The Apollo Program, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, www.airandspace.si.edu/

 

 

 Apollo 14 Saturn V Climbs

January 31 1971

NASA Photo 

"HE COULD NOT SEE THE STARS, DID NOT EXPERIENCE WEIGHTLESSNESS & EARTH APPEARED B&W"

USA LAUNCHES ASTRONAUT INTO SPACE FROM CAPE CANAVERAL

Cape Canaveral, Florida (JFK+50) On May 5, 1961, Alan B. Shepard, Jr.* was launched aboard the "Freedom 7" spacecraft from the National Aeronautics Space Complex here in Cape Canaveral becoming the first American in space. 

Shepard was launched atop a REDSTONE ROCKET**.  His suborbital flight lasted 15 minutes and traveled 116 miles into the atmosphere.  Because of the configuration of the porthole, the astronaut could not see the stars.  He also was strapped so tightly into the capsule he did not experience weightlessness.  Also, the filter in the window made the earth appear black and white.

Alan B. Shepard, Jr. was selected as one of 110 test pilots by NASA in 1959 for potential astronaut selection.  He made the final cut to become one of the MERCURY 7.  Shepard was presented with the Distinguished Service Medal by President John F. Kennedy on May 8, 1961

 *Alan B. Shepard, Jr. (1923-1998) was born in Derry, NH. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1944 & served in WWII. ABSJ graduated from the Naval War College in Newport, RI in 1957.  In 1978, President Jimmy Carter presented Shepard with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

**The Redstone Rocket propelled Alan B. Shepard, Jr. and his Freedom 7 Mercury capsule into space.  Lift off was at 9:34 a.m.  The event was witnessed by 45 million television viewers including JFK & LBJ.

SOURCE

"Alan Shepard:  First American in Space," by Nola Taylor Redd, October 10, 2018, www.space.com

         JFK Pins Medal on Alan Shepard
              NASA Photo (May 8, 1961)

                

ALAN B. SHEPARD, JR. DEMONSTRATES MAN'S CAPABILITIES IN SUB-ORBITAL FLIGHT

AMERICA PUTS A MAN INTO SPACE

Cape Canaveral (JFK+50) President John F. Kennedy set the goal of landing a man on the moon before the end of the 1960s.  The first step toward that goal was taken on May 5, 1961 when Alan B. Shepard, Jr.* was launched aboard Freedom 7 from Launch Complex 5 here at the Cape.

Commander Shepard, the first American to fly in space, was launched atop a REDSTONE ROCKET and completed a suborbital flight lasting fifteen minutes.   Freedom 7 traveled 116 miles into the Earth's atmosphere.

On May 8th, JFK presented NASA's Distinguished Service Medal to Shepard in the Rose Garden at the White House.  During the presentation, the President said...

"His flight...was an outstanding contribution to the advancement of human knowledge & space technology, and a demonstration of man's capabilities in sub-orbital space flight."


*Alan B. Shepard, Jr. (1923-1998) was born in Derry, NH to Lt. Col. ABS Sr. and Renza Shepard.  He graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1944 and served in WWII.  Afterwards he earned his Naval Aviator wings.  ABS graduated from the Naval War College in 1957.  

SOURCES

"NASA, Space Community Remembers 'Freedom 7," May 5, 2011, www.nasa.gov/

"Remarks at the Presentation of NASA's Distinguished Service Medal to Astronaut Alan B. Shepard, May 8, 1961." Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States:  John F. Kennedy, January 20 to December 31, 1961, United States Government Printing Office, 1962.

JFK Pins Medal on Alan Shepard

NASA Photo (May 8, 1961)

FREEDOM SEVEN BOOSTS AMERICA'S SPIRIT

JFK+50:  Volume 5, No. 1940

FIRST AMERICAN LAUNCHED INTO SPACE 55 YEARS AGO TODAY

Kennedy Space Center, Florida (JFK+50) Astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr.* was launched aboard his Freedom 7 spacecraft from the National Aeronautics Launch Complex Five at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station fifty-five years ago today, May 5, 1961. Commander Shepard became the first American to fly in space.

Shepard, launched atop a REDSTONE ROCKET, completed a suborbital flight lasting fifteen minutes.   His spacecraft traveled 116 miles into the Earth's atmosphere.

On the 50th anniversary of the flight, Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana said...

"The flight of Freedom 7 boosted spirits throughout the country at a time when the U.S. appeared to be faltering in the quest for a viable space program."

The Soviet Union had beaten the USA into space by successfully sending into orbit cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin on April 12, 1961.  President John F. Kennedy was determined that his country would pull ahead of the Russians.  He said...

"America should not be first if, first but, first when, but first PERIOD!" 

Alan B. Shepard, Jr. was selected as one of 110 test pilots by NASA in 1959 for potential astronaut selection.  He made the final cut to become one of the MERCURY 7.

Commander Shepard was presented with the Distinguished Service Medal by President Kennedy on May 8, 1961. A decade later, Shepard, at age 47 the oldest astronaut at the time, returned to space as commander of APOLLO 14 and walked on the moon.

Alan B. Shepard, Jr. died after a two year battle with leukemia in Pebble Beach, California on July 21, 1998.  His wife, Louise, died 5 weeks later.  They are survived by 3 daughters and 6 grandchildren.


*Alan B. Shepard, Jr. (1923-1998) was born in Derry, NH to Lt. Col. ABS Sr. and Renza Shepard.  He graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1944 and served in WWII.  Afterwards he earned his Naval Aviator wings.

Shepard graduated from the Naval War College in Newport, RI in 1957.  After his selection for the Man in Space program he was chosen to be the 1st American to go into space.

SOURCE

"NASA, Space Community Remembers 'Freedom 7," May 5, 2011, www.nasa.gov/

JFK Pins Medal on Alan Shepard

 NASA Photo (May 8, 1961)

                      

      

FIRST AMERICAN IN SPACE

FIRST AMERICAN LAUNCHED INTO SPACE 53 YEARS AGO TODAY

Cape Canaveral, Florida (JFK+50) Alan B. Shepard, Jr.* was launched aboard the "Freedom 7" spacecraft from the National Aeronautics Space Complex here in Cape Canaveral 53 years ago today, May 5, 1961, becoming the first American in space.

Commander Shepard was launched atop a REDSTONE ROCKET** and his suborbital flight lasted 15 minutes and traveled 116 miles into the Earth's atmosphere.

Alan B. Shepard, Jr. was selected as one of 110 test pilots by NASA in 1959 for potential astronaut selection.  He made the final cut to become one of the MERCURY 7.

He was presented with the Distinguished Service Medal by President John F. Kennedy on May 8, 1961. 

         JFK Pins Medal on Alan Shepard
              NASA Photo (May 8, 1961)

A decade later, Shepard, at age 47 the oldest astronaut at the time, returned to space as commander of APOLLO 14 and walked on the moon.

                 Commander Shepard
                 on the Lunar Surface
                   NASA Image (1971)


Alan B. Shepard, Jr. died after a 2 year battle with leukemia in Pebble Beach, California on July 21, 1998.  

His wife, Louise, died 5 weeks later.  They are survived by 3 daughters and 6 grandchildren.

*Alan B. Shepard, Jr. (1923-1998) was born in Derry, NH to Lt. Col. ABS Sr. and Renza Shepard.  He graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1944 and served in WWII.  Afterwards he earned his Naval Aviator wings.

Shepard graduated from the Naval War College in Newport, RI in 1957.  After his selection for the Man in Space program he was chosen to be the 1st American to go into space.

After his historic space flight, Shepard became a national hero and was honored with parades in Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C.

In 1978, President Jimmy Carter presented Shepard with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

**The Redstone Rocket propelled Alan B. Shepard, Jr. and his Freedom 7 Mercury capsule into space.  The countdown began at 8:30 p.m on May 4 and Shepard climbed aboard the spacecraft at 5:15 the next morning.  Lift off was at 9:34 a.m. Eastern time.  The event was witnessed by 45 million television viewers including President Kennedy and VP Johnson.  

                    LBJ, JFK and Jackie
             Watch Liftoff of Freedom 7
               Photo by Cecil Stoughton
              White House Image (1961)

                      You Tube Video