Alan Shepard was the first American to fly into space and the second person in the world to do so. He made America’s first successful space flight and walked on the moon as part of the Apollo 14 crew. Shepard was also a talented businessman, author, and speaker. He received numerous awards and public buildings were named in his honor. Shepard died in 1998 and is survived by his three daughters and six grandchildren.
Alan Shepard was the first American to fly into space and the second person in the world to do so successfully. His long career as an astronaut is extraordinary. He not only made America’s first successful space flight as part of the Mercury program in 1961, but he also walked on the moon as one of the Apollo 14 crew members.
Some would call Alan Shepard really lucky. He was initially assigned to the failed and near-fatal Apollo 13 mission. Instead, Alan Shepard and his crew switched to the astronauts who were originally scheduled to fly on the Apollo 14 mission, because Shepard and his crew needed more time to prepare.
Alan Shepard also bears the distinction of being the only astronaut from the Mercury program to have performed a moon landing. His astronaut career spanned 25 years from 1959 to 1974. In 1971, when he commanded the Apollo 14 mission, Alan Shepard also became the oldest astronaut in the NASA program at 47 years old.
Throughout his impressive spaceflights and career, Alan Shepard has served his country in many other ways. He was a delegate to the 26th United Nations General Assembly in 1971. He is also known for entertaining audiences on several important occasions. His launch on Freedom 7 is remembered in part for his speech, “Please, dear God, don’t shit me,” now known as “The Shepherd’s Prayer.” Also, he was the first man to play golf on the moon.
Historians cite Alan Shepard as not only a talented astronaut, but also a consummate businessman. Before exiting the space program, he had already earned over a million US dollars (USD) through solid investments and paid speaker engagements. He also co-wrote with Deke Slayton, another Mercury Program astronaut, the nonfiction book, Moon Shot: The Inside Story of America’s Race to the Moon, in 1988. The book was a success and was adapted into a television miniseries. in 1994.
Alan Shepard received numerous awards during his lifetime, including two NASA Distinguished Service Medals, the Space Congress Medal of Honor, and the NASA Outstanding Achievement Medal. He has had many public buildings named in his honor. He is recognized as a devoted husband and father, even adopting his granddaughter Alice in 1951.
Alan Shepard died in 1998 of leukemia and his wife died just over a month later. He is survived by his three daughters Laura, Juliana and Alice and six grandchildren. This distinguished American astronaut is unlikely to be forgotten for his courageous deeds, business acumen and sense of humor.
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