Alan Shepard Quotes

A collection of quotes by Alan Shepard.

Alan Shepard was a notable American astronaut and test pilot. He was born on November 18, 1923, in East Derry, New Hampshire. Shepard graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1944 and later joined the Navy as a fighter pilot during World War II. After the war, he continued his career as a test pilot, flying various jet aircraft.

Shepard's most significant achievement came on May 5, 1961, when he became the first American to travel to space as part of the historic Mercury-Redstone 3 mission, also known as Freedom 7. During this mission, he piloted the spacecraft and achieved a maximum altitude of 187.5 kilometers (116.5 miles) and a maximum speed of 8,262 kilometers per hour (5,134 miles per hour).

Following his historic spaceflight, Shepard played a crucial role in the Apollo program. After being grounded for several years due to an inner ear disorder, he underwent successful surgery and was assigned as commander of Apollo 14 in 1971. During this mission, Shepard became the fifth person to walk on the Moon and the first to play golf there.

Shepard retired from NASA and the Navy in 1974, having accumulated a total of 216 hours and 57 minutes in space. After leaving the space agency, he pursued a career in business and became a successful businessman. Alan Shepard passed away on July 21, 1998, leaving behind a legacy as one of America's pioneering astronauts.