SOLAR SYSTEM

Detailed explanation-1: -Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. (November 18, 1923 – July 21, 1998) was an American astronaut, naval aviator, test pilot, and businessman. In 1961, he became the second person and the first American to travel into space and, in 1971, he became the fifth and oldest person to walk on the Moon at age 47.

Detailed explanation-2: -On May 5, 1961, astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American-and the second man-to travel in space when he launched a 15-minute, sub-orbital flight aboard NASA’s Mercury spacecraft Freedom 7.

Detailed explanation-3: -Shepard gets selected “Not because of the fame or the recognition, ‘’ Shepard once said, “but because America’s best test pilots went through this selection process, down to seven guys, and of those seven, I was the one to go.”

Detailed explanation-4: -They are also referred to as the Original Seven and Astronaut Group 1. Their names were publicly announced by NASA on April 9, 1959; these seven original American astronauts were Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton.

Detailed explanation-5: -It was originally slated for May 2, 1961, but due to unfavorable weather, the launch attempt was scrubbed. On May 5 at 9:34 a.m. ET, Shepard was launched on a spacecraft named Freedom 7. He flew for 15 minutes and 28 seconds, traveling 116 miles up and becoming the first American to reach space.