Alan Shepard

astronaut · space explorer · Moon walking · American hero

First American in Space. On May 5, 1961, Alan Shepard blasted off in a small spacecraft called Freedom 7 and became the first American to travel into space. His trip was short but thrilling, reaching an altitude where he could see the curve of Earth below him.

Moon Explorer. Ten years later, in 1971, Shepard walked on the Moon as part of the Apollo 14 mission, making him the fifth person ever to set foot there. At 47 years old, he was the oldest person to walk on the Moon at that time.

Golfing on the Moon. While on the Moon, Shepard famously hit two golf balls across the lunar surface, sending them flying much farther than they would go on Earth because the Moon has less gravity. He joked that one of them went 'miles and miles and miles,' though it probably only traveled a few hundred yards.

Navy Test Pilot. Before becoming an astronaut, Shepard was a skilled Navy test pilot who flew fast fighter jets. His experience flying experimental aircraft made him the perfect choice for America's first human spaceflight.