50th anniversary of U.S.'s first human spaceflight celebrated

  • Published
  • By Auburn Davis
  • 45th Space Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  People gathered here May 4 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first American in space.

The event honored Alan B. Shepard Jr., who piloted the 15-minute, 23-second suborbital flight at 303 statute miles in the Freedom 7 spacecraft May 5, 1961.

Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter and members of the Shepard family joined more than 150 Project Mercury workers, former astronauts, military and NASA leaders at the original launch pad on which the Freedom 7 rocket stood.

The success of the launch made Mr. Shepard the first American to travel into space, an achievement that opened a door to space travel.

That achievement was made possible by the combined efforts of the U.S. military and NASA, said Lt. Gen. Susan Helms, the 14th Air Force commander and former astronaut.

"The military has played an important part in our human space flight program from the beginning," she said. "Of the seven original astronauts, all had a military background."

Besides providing astronauts, military officials helped drive the space program in other ways, the general said. First, the rocket was a product of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency that merged with NASA. Second, Navy experts helped train Mr. Shepard and were responsible for recovering him when he splashed down. Third, Air Force operators were responsible for the operation of the range and the safety of millions of people as the rocket flew downrange. Finally, NASA officials provided the leadership and vision to bring all of the elements and groups together.

Air Force men and women continue to take part in all of NASA¹s shuttle missions, as well as milestone Air Force and commercial launches.