Another Fiftieth: An American in Space

[beamjockey]

Fifty years ago, on 5 May 1961, Commander Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr., of the U.S. Navy, squeezed aboard a spacecraft he'd named Freedom 7, atop a Redstone rocket. It lofted him 185 kilometers into the blackness of space.

The Soviets were still ahead, but we were now in the race. I cheered.


Photo by Ralph Morse, copyright 1961 by Time, Inc.

Don't rush, Commander, I'm sure the flight won't leave without you...

Photo by Ralph Morse, copyright 1961 by Time, Inc.
Much later, Shepard would walk on another world.

Comments

[hartree.livejournal.com]

I found his prayer appropriate.

[mmcirvin.livejournal.com]

I had no idea that I-93 from the MA-NH border to Manchester is named after him. It's not the longest stretch of highway but it's the way to the airport.

[beamjockey.livejournal.com]

New Hampshire is very proud of its native son.

[mmcirvin.livejournal.com]

samantha2074 calls the top shot "the world's worst cheesecake photo".