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On May 5,1961 Alan Shepard became the first American in space. Alan

Shepard rode in a space capsule on top of the Freedom 7 rocket. Shepard
was sealed in the capsule and did many tests and checklists. The flight
was supposed to be only fifteen minutes, but there were a lot of delays
and it took over an hour. Shepard did not realize that it would take so
long and he needed to relieve himself. Since he couldnšt leave the space
capsule he asked for permission to relieve himself in his space suit. The
electrical circuits in his suit were turned off and he was able to relieve
himself.

Once the rocket lifted off the ground Shepard turned off the auto pilot

and tested the space ships maneuvering ability. He thought the Freedom
7 rocket was good to use another time. The space ship easily fired the
retro rockets. Then the started to go downward. The shield on the
bottom of the capsule became very hot. Even though the shield on the
bottom of the capsule was 1200 degrees, the inside of the cabin was only
102 degrees, and Shepardšs suit kept him at 85 degrees.

The rest of the flight had no problems and splashed down safely in the

ocean where the rescue helicopter dropped a harness down to Shepard.
Once divers helped put a harness on the astronaut he was lifted up and
brought to a waiting ship.

When he came back President Kennedy addressed talked to congress and

said:

"I believe this nation should

commit itself to achieving the

goal, before this decade is out, of

landing a man on the Moon and

returning him safely to Earth. No

single space project in this period

will be more impressive to

mankind, or more important in the

long-range exploration of space;

and none will be so difficult or

expensive to accomplish."

-John F. Kennedy

Special Joint Session of Congress

May 25, 1961