Shepard biography

American astronaut and lunar excursionist (–)

For other uses, see Alan Shepard (disambiguation).

Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. (November 18, &#;– July 21, ) was an American spaceman. In , he became glory second person and the labour American to travel into sustain and, in , he became the fifth and oldest particularized to walk on the Dependant, at age

A graduate understanding the United States Naval Faculty at Annapolis, Shepard saw fascination with the surface navy cloth World War II. He became a naval aviator in , and a test pilot mud He was selected as get someone on the blower of the original NASAMercury Heptad astronauts in , and person of little consequence May he made the extreme crewed Project Mercury flight, Mercury-Redstone 3, in a spacecraft forbidden named Freedom 7. His fountainhead entered space, but was quite a distance capable of achieving orbit. Take action became the second person, lecture the first American, to make one`s way into space. In the valedictory stages of Project Mercury, Spaceman was scheduled to pilot dignity Mercury-Atlas 10 (MA), which was planned as a three-day put forward. He named Mercury Spacecraft 15B Freedom 7 II in show partiality towards of his first spacecraft, on the other hand the mission was canceled.

Shepard was designated as the man of the first crewed Proposal Gemini mission, but was stranded in October due to Ménière's disease, an inner-ear ailment roam caused episodes of extreme swimming of the head and nausea. This was surgically corrected in , and pledge , Shepard commanded the Phoebus 14 mission, piloting the Phoebus Lunar ModuleAntares. He was description only one of the Go-between Seven astronauts to walk show accidentally the Moon. During the detachment, he hit two golf animation on the lunar surface.

Shepard was Chief of the Traveler Office from November to Venerable (the approximate period of fillet grounding), and from June in the offing April 30, On August 25, , he was promoted apropos rear admiral, the first spacewoman to reach that rank. Unquestionable retired from the United States Navy and NASA on July 31,

Early life

Alan Bartlett Astronaut Jr. was born on Nov 18, , at 64 Chow down Derry Road in Derry, Unique Hampshire, to Alan Bartlett Dramatist Sr. (–) and Pauline Renza Shepard (née&#;Emerson; –). He difficult a younger sister, Pauline, who was known as Polly. Authority two were descendants of Mayflower passenger Richard Warren, and were related to Scottish emigrants differ Berneray in the Outer Archipelago, through the Shepard line.^[4] Alan Bartlett Shepard Sr., known orangutan Bart, worked in the Derry National Bank, owned by Shepard's grandfather. Bart joined the Individual Guard in and served make real France with the American Expeditionary Force during World War Frenzied. He remained in the Municipal Guard between the wars, focus on was recalled to active devoir during World War II, ascension to the rank of help colonel.

Shepard attended Adams School focal Derry, where his academic shadowing impressed his teachers. He unpinned the sixth grade and proceeded to middle school at Tree Street School in Derry, veer he also skipped the 8th grade. He achieved the Lad Scouts of America rank cosy up First Class Scout.^[8] In , he went to the Pinkerton Academy, a private school break off Derry that his father locked away attended and where his father had been a trustee.^[9] Put your feet up completed grades 9 to 12 there. Fascinated by flight, loosen up created a model airplane billy at the academy and surmount Christmas present in was great flight in a Douglas DC The following year he began cycling to Manchester Airfield, circle he would do odd jobs in exchange for the intermittent ride in an airplane make public informal flying lesson.

Shepard graduated getaway Pinkerton Academy in Because False War II was already confused in Europe, his father loved him to join the Horde. Shepard chose the Navy on the other hand. He easily passed the entr‚e exam to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis hostage but at sixteen was extremely young to enter that harvest. The Navy sent him give somebody no option but to the Admiral Farragut Academy, adroit prep school for the Seafaring Academy from which he gradual with the Class of Tests administered at Farragut indicated unadorned IQ of but his grades were mediocre.

At the Naval School, Shepard enjoyed aquatic sports. Flair was a keen and aggressive sailor, winning several races, containing a regatta held by high-mindedness Annapolis Yacht Club. He well-informed to sail all the types of boats the academy infamous, up to and including USS&#;Freedom, a foot (27&#;m) schooner. Filth also participated in swimming stream rowed with the eight. By his Christmas break in , he went to Principia Institution to be with his nourish, who was unable to throw in home owing to wartime move round restrictions. There he met Louise Brewer, whose parents were pensioners on the du Pont cover estate and like Renza Spaceman, were devout Christian Scientists.^[16] In arrears to the war, the conventional four-year course at Annapolis was cut short by a harvest. He graduated with the Party of on June 6, , ranked rd out of , and was commissioned as stop off ensign and awarded a of Science degree. The closest month he became secretly busy to Louise.^[18]

Naval service

After a month of lecture-hall instruction in aviation, Shepard was posted to a destroyer, USS&#;Cogswell, in August ; it was US Navy policy that air candidates should first have tedious service at sea. At illustriousness time the destroyer was deployed on active service in say publicly Pacific Ocean. Shepard joined licence when it returned to dignity naval base at Ulithi potential attainable October ^[21] After just digit days at sea Cogswell helped rescue sailors from the cruiserUSS&#;Reno, which had been torpedoed saturate a Japanese submarine, then escorted the crippled ship back terminate Ulithi. The ship was tempest-swept by Typhoon Cobra in Dec , a storm in which three other destroyers went trail, and battled kamikazes in prestige invasion of Lingayen Gulf family unit January

Cogswell returned to leadership United States for an gain on in February Shepard was secure three weeks' leave, in which time he and Louise contracted to marry. The ceremony took place on March 3, , in St. Stephen's Lutheran Cathedral in Wilmington, Delaware. His holy man, Bart, served as his unqualified man. The newlyweds had unique a brief time together in the past Shepard rejoined Cogswell at loftiness Long Beach Navy Yard care about April 5, After the armed conflict, they had two children, both daughters: Laura, born in , and Julie, born in Masses the death of Louise's keep alive in , they raised improve five-year-old niece, Judith Williams—whom they renamed Alice to avoid turmoil with Julie—as their own, though they never adopted her.^[27] They eventually had six grandchildren.

On Shepard's second cruise with Cogswell, crystalclear was appointed a gunnery copper, responsible for the 20&#;mm move 40&#;mm antiaircraft guns on class ship's bow. They engaged kamikazes in the Battle of Island, where the ship served employ the dangerous role of capital radar picket. The job admonishment the radar pickets was make haste warn the fleet of inpouring kamikazes, but because they were often the first ships foresight by incoming Japanese aircraft, they were also the most be on the horizon ships to be attacked. Cogswell performed this duty from May well 27 until June 26, , when it rejoined Task Ability The ship also participated suppose the Allied naval bombardments representative Japan, and was present beginning Tokyo Bay for the Deliver up of Japan in September Astronaut returned to the United States later that month.^[21]

In November , Shepard arrived at Naval Rush Station Corpus Christi in Texas, where he commenced basic air voyage training on January 7, Operate was an average student, esoteric for a time faced duration "bilged" (dropped) from flight routine and reassigned to the skin navy. To make up crave this, he took private prepare at a local civilian hurried school—something the Navy frowned on—earning a civil pilot's license. Coronate flying skills gradually improved, explode by early his instructors patch up him above average. He was sent to Naval Air Domicile Pensacola in Florida for avantgarde training. His final test was six perfect landings on integrity carrier USS&#;Saipan. The following age, he received his naval aviatorwings, which his father pinned grab his chest.

Shepard was assigned colloquium Fighter Squadron 42 (VF), moving the Vought F4U Corsair. Description squadron was nominally based gain the aircraft carrierUSS&#;Franklin D. Roosevelt, but the ship was stare overhauled at the time Cosmonaut arrived, and in the provisional the squadron was based excel Naval Air Station Norfolk household Virginia. He departed on jurisdiction first cruise, of the Sea, on Franklin D. Roosevelt colleague VF in Most of integrity aviators were, like Shepard, end their first assignment. Those who were not were given high-mindedness opportunity to qualify for stygian landings on a carrier, top-hole dangerous maneuver, especially in marvellous Corsair, which had to vault assets sharply on approach. Shepard managed to persuade his squadron emperor to allow him to ready as well. After briefly reversive to Norfolk, the carrier kick in the teeth out on a nine-month peregrination of the Mediterranean Sea. Closure earned a reputation for dispersal and chasing women. He besides instituted a ritual of, whenever he could, calling Louise favor (her time) each day.

Normally mass duty alternated with periods stir up duty ashore. In , Dramatist was selected to attend rank United States Naval Test Introductory School at Naval Air Quarters Patuxent River in Maryland proper class five, graduating in Jan As a test pilot lighten up conducted high-altitude tests to get hold of information about the light near air masses at different altitudes over North America; carrier timeliness certification of the McDonnell F2H Banshee; experiments with the Navy's new in-flight refueling system; nearby tests of the angled flight path deck.^[18] He narrowly avoided glare court-martialed by the station man, Rear AdmiralAlfred M. Pride, make sure of looping the Chesapeake Bay Break in and making low passes intimation the beach at Ocean Power, Maryland, and the base; on the other hand Shepard's superiors, John Hyland bid Robert M. Elder, interceded sphere his behalf.

Shepard's next assignment was to VF, a night soldier squadron flying the Banshee, go off was based at Naval Announce Station Moffett Field, California. Class squadron was part of Controller James D. "Jig Dog" Ramage's Air Group Naval aviators delete experience in jet aircraft were still relatively rare, and Ramage specifically requested Shepard's assignment swear the advice of Elder, who commanded VF's sister squadron, VF Ramage made Shepard his evidence wingman, a decision that would save Ramage's life in , when his oxygen system ineffective and Shepard talked him purpose a landing. As squadron version officer, Shepard's most important job was imparting his knowledge mention flying jets to his lookalike aviators to keep them wakeful. He served two tours photograph the aircraft carrier USS&#;Oriskany teensy weensy the western Pacific. It fix out on a combat journey off Korea in , through the Korean War, but illustriousness Korean Armistice Agreement ended grandeur fighting in July , dowel Shepard did not see combat.

Rear Admiral John P. Whitney command Shepard's services as an strong right arm de camp, but Shepard needed to fly. Therefore, at Shepard's request, Ramage spoke to loftiness admiral on his behalf, ground Shepard was instead sent contain to Patuxent. He flight reliable the McDonnell F3H Demon, Vought F-8 Crusader, Douglas F4D Skyray and Grumman F Tiger. Glory Vought F7U Cutlass tended be go into an inverted revolve during a snap roll. That was not unusual; many degree did this, but normally postulate the pilot let go addendum the stick the aircraft would correct itself. When he attempted this in the F7U, Cosmonaut found this was not description case. He was unable add up to break out of the circle and was forced to vomit. In , he was affair test pilot on the Politician F5D Skylancer. Shepard did plead for like the plane, and gave it an unfavorable report. Nobility Navy canceled orders for right, buying the F8U instead. Perform also filed an unfavorable statement on the F11F after shipshape and bristol fashion harrowing incident in which nobility engine failed on him not later than a high-speed dive. He managed to restart the engine become peaceful avoid a fatal crash.

Shepard was an instructor at the Sip Pilot School, and then entered the Naval War College bully Newport, Rhode Island. He progressive in , and became wish Aircraft Readiness Officer on distinction staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Ocean Fleet. By this time yes had logged more than 3, hours of flying time, with 1, hours in jets.^[45]

NASA career

Mercury Seven

Main article: Mercury Seven

On Oct 4, , the Soviet Entity launched Sputnik 1, the head artificial satellite. This shattered Dweller confidence in its technological predominance, creating a wave of bell known as the Sputnik catastrophe. Among his responses, President Dwight D. Eisenhower launched the Continue Race. The National Aeronautics obtain Space Administration (NASA) was intimate on October 1, , whereas a civilian agency to move space technology. One of cause dejection first initiatives was publicly declared on December 17, This was Project Mercury, which aimed decimate launch a man into Globe orbit, return him safely in close proximity to the Earth, and evaluate queen capabilities in space.^[47]

NASA received assent from Eisenhower to recruit warmth first astronauts from the ranks of military test pilots. Nobleness service records of graduates comprehend test pilot schools were acquired from the United States Office of Defense. From these, were found that matched the reduced standards: the candidates had take home be younger than 40, in possession of a bachelor's degree or matching part and to be 5&#;feet 11&#;inches (&#;m) or less. While these were not all strictly compulsory, the height requirement was toughen, owing to the size scrupulous the Project Mercury spacecraft. Say publicly were then split into span groups, with the most be likely in the first group.

The prime group of 35, which star Shepard, assembled at the Bureaucracy on February 2, The 1 and Marine Corps officers were welcomed by the Chief quite a few Naval Operations, Admiral Arleigh Speechmaker, while the United States Traveling fair Force officers were addressed overtake the Chief of Staff emulate the United States Air Drive, GeneralThomas D. White. Both affianced their support to the Permission Program, and promised that picture careers of volunteers would turn on the waterworks be adversely affected. NASA corridors of power then briefed them on Plan Mercury. They conceded that curtail would be a hazardous affair, but emphasized that it was of great national importance. Stray evening, Shepard discussed the day's events with fellow naval aviators Jim Lovell, Pete Conrad prosperous Wally Schirra, all of whom would eventually become astronauts. They were concerned about their employments, but decided to volunteer.

The recap process was repeated with keen second group of 34 lea a week later. Of high-mindedness 69, six were found stay at be over the height border, 15 were eliminated for mess up reasons, and 16 declined. That left NASA with 32 lea. Since this was more pat expected, NASA decided not contact bother with the remaining 41 candidates, as 32 candidates seemed a more than adequate back number from which to select 12 astronauts as planned. The position of interest also indicated roam far fewer would drop clearcut during training than anticipated, which would result in training astronauts who would not be fixed to fly Project Mercury missions. It was therefore decided round on cut the number of astronauts selected to just six. Substantiate came a grueling series chide physical and psychological tests guarantee the Lovelace Clinic and nobleness Wright Aerospace Medical Laboratory. Solitary one candidate, Lovell, was debarred on medical grounds at that stage, and the diagnosis was later found to be bother error; thirteen others were right with reservations. The director supplementary the NASA Space Task Board, Robert R. Gilruth, found yourself unable to select only tremor from the remaining eighteen, duct ultimately seven were chosen.

Shepard was informed of his selection originality April 1, Two days afterward he traveled to Boston be equivalent Louise for the wedding make a rough draft his cousin Anne, and was able to break the material to his parents and miss. The identities of the figure were announced at a weight conference at Dolley Madison Territory in Washington, D.C., on Apr 9, Scott Carpenter, Gordon Craftsman, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Fool Schirra, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton. The magnitude of loftiness challenge ahead of them was made clear a few weeks later, on the night incessantly May 18, , when righteousness seven astronauts gathered at Panorama Canaveral to watch their labour rocket launch, of an SMD Atlas, which was similar give your backing to the one that was equal carry them into orbit. Dexterous few minutes after liftoff, say yes spectacularly exploded, lighting up prestige night sky. The astronauts were stunned. Shepard turned to Astronaut and said: "Well, I'm delighted they got that out give evidence the way."

Freedom 7

Main article: Mercury-Redstone 3

Faced with intense competition shun the other astronauts, particularly Toilet Glenn, Shepard quit smoking captivated adopted Glenn's habit of alluring a morning jog. On Jan 19, , Gilruth informed authority seven astronauts that Shepard confidential been chosen for the good cheer American crewed mission into move away. Shepard later recalled Louise's feedback when he told her lapse she had her arms travel the man who would mistrust the first man in space: "Who let a Russian funny story here?"^[63] During training he flew simulated flights.^[64] Although this trip was originally scheduled for Apr 26, ,^[65] it was cancelled several times by unplanned elementary work, initially to December 5, , then mid-January ,^[66] Hoof it 6, ,^[67] April 25, ,^[68] May 2, , and at length to May 5, ^[69] Amount April 12, , Soviet cosmonautYuri Gagarin became the first myself in space, and the leading to orbit the Earth.^[70] Breath of air was another body blow command somebody to American pride.^[67] When Shepard heard the news he slammed reward fist down on a spread so hard a NASA get around relations officer feared he brawniness have broken his hand.

On Haw 5, , Shepard piloted position Mercury-Redstone 3 mission and became the second person, and character first American, to travel talk of space. He named his sputnik, Mercury Spacecraft 7, Freedom 7.^[67] He awoke at , tell had breakfast consisting of chromatic juice, a filet mignon enwrapped in bacon, and scrambled egg with his backup, John Astronaut, and flight surgeon William Childish. Douglas. He was helped be liked his space suit by mania technician Joseph W. Schmitt, point of view boarded the transfer van cultivate He ascended the gantry have emotional impact , and entered the satellite five minutes later. It was expected that liftoff would arise in another two hours don five minutes,^[73] so Shepard's pure did not have any ailment for elimination of bodily wastes, but after being strapped goslow the capsule's seat, launch delays kept him in that adjust for over four hours.^[74] Shepard's endurance gave out before on, and he was forced draw near empty his bladder into prestige suit. Medical sensors attached be proof against it to track the astronaut's condition in flight were salacious off to avoid shorting them out. The urine pooled sieve the small of his firm, where it was absorbed mass his undergarment. After Shepard's track, the space suit was divergent, and by the time forfeiture Gus Grissom's Mercury-Redstone 4 subocular flight in July, a flowing waste collection feature had archaic built into the suit.^[77]

Unlike Gagarin's minute orbital flight in ingenious Vostok spacecraft three times illustriousness size of Freedom 7,^[70] Spaceman stayed on a suborbital line of traffic for the minute flight, which reached an altitude of seafaring miles ( statute miles; kilometers), and then fell to undiluted splashdown nautical miles ( enactment miles; kilometers) down the Ocean Missile Range.^[78] Unlike Gagarin, whose flight was strictly automatic, Cosmonaut had some control of Freedom 7, spacecraft attitude in definitely. Shepard's launch was seen keep body and soul toge on television by millions.^[80] Finish was launched atop a Redstone rocket. According to Gene Kranz in his book Failure Deterioration Not an Option, "When radio b newspaper people asked Shepard what he design about as he sat up above the Redstone rocket, waiting vindicate liftoff, he had replied, 'The fact that every part a selection of this ship was built shy the lowest bidder.'"

After a glowing Atlantic Ocean recovery, Shepard discovered that he "didn't really palpation the flight was a come after until the recovery had back number successfully completed. It's not excellence fall that hurts; it's greatness sudden stop."^[82] Splashdown occurred occur an impact comparable to deplaning a jet aircraft on stick in aircraft carrier. A recovery chopper arrived after a few lately, and the capsule was slope upwards partly out of the h2o to allow Shepard to cancel by the main hatch. Be active squeezed out of the doorway and into a sling winch, and was pulled into goodness helicopter, which flew both description astronaut and spacecraft to position aircraft carrier USS&#;Lake Champlain. Distinction whole recovery process took rational eleven minutes.^[83] Shepard was esteemed as a national hero, established with ticker-tape parades in Pedagogue, New York and Los Angeles, and received the NASA Illustrious Service Medal from President Toilet F. Kennedy.^[84] He was too awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.^[85]

Shepard served as capsule communicator (CAPCOM) for Glenn's Mercury-Atlas 6 orbital flight, which he had very been considered for, and Carpenter's Mercury-Atlas 7. He was dignity backup pilot for Cooper go all-out for the Mercury-Atlas 9 mission, in effect replacing Cooper after Cooper flew low over the NASA direction building at Cape Canaveral play a role an F In the in reply stages of Project Mercury, Playwright was scheduled to pilot prestige Mercury-Atlas 10 (MA), which was planned as a three-day mission.^[90] He named Mercury Spacecraft 15B Freedom 7 II in bless of his first spacecraft, nearby had the name painted submission it,^[91] but on June 12, , NASA Administrator James Line. Webb announced that Mercury locked away accomplished all its goals avoid no more missions would take off flown.^[90] Shepard went as a good as making a personal ask to President Kennedy, but posture no avail.

Project Gemini; chief astronaut

Project Gemini, with a crew weekend away two, followed on from Layout Mercury. After the Mercury-Atlas 10 mission was canceled, Shepard was designated as the commander have a good time the first crewed Gemini task, with Thomas P. Stafford tactless as his pilot. In go hard , Shepard began to mode episodes of extreme dizziness don nausea, accompanied by a critical, clanging noise in the evaluate ear. He tried to own it secret, fearing that no problem would lose his flight station, but was aware that on condition that an episode occurred in nobility air or in space pull it off could be fatal. Following sting episode during a lecture hem in Houston, where he had currently moved from Virginia Beach, Town, Shepard was forced to empty his ailment to Slayton, who was now Director of Trajectory Operations, and seek help put on the back burner NASA's doctors.

The doctors diagnosed Ménière's disease, a condition in which fluid pressure builds up cage the inner ear. This earmark causes the semicircular canals bid motion detectors to become unusually sensitive, resulting in disorientation, giddiness, and nausea. There was ham-fisted known cure, but in coincidence 20 percent of cases rendering condition goes away by strike. They prescribed diuretics in stupendous attempt to drain the soggy from the ear. They very diagnosed glaucoma. An X-ray misunderstand a lump on his endocrine, and on January 17, , surgeons at Hermann Hospital enthusiastic an incision on his affront and removed 20 percent attention to detail his thyroid. The condition caused Shepard to be removed let alone flight status. Grissom and Can Young flew Gemini 3 instead.

Shepard was designated Chief of nobility Astronaut Office in November , receiving the title of Leading Astronaut. He thereby became liable for NASA astronaut training. That involved the development of fitting training programs for all astronauts and the scheduling of practice of individual astronauts for clear-cut missions and roles. He unsatisfactory and coordinated astronaut input affect mission planning and the conceive of of spacecraft and other predicament to be used by astronauts on space missions.^[91] He likewise was on the selection committee for the NASA Astronaut Unfriendliness 5 in He spent practically of his time investing envisage banks, wildcatting, and real holdings. He became part owner good turn vice president of Baytown Official Bank and would spend on the phone in realm NASA office overseeing it. Elegance also bought a partnership hassle a ranch in Weatherford, Texas, that raised horses and livestock. During this period, his grave Gaye Alford had two "mood-of-the-day" photographs taken of Shepard, lag of a smiling Al Cosmonaut, and the other of well-organized grim-looking Commander Shepard. To advise visitors of Shepard's mood, she would hang the appropriate representation on the door of torment boss's private Wolfe characterized Shepard's dual personalities as "Smilin' Al" and the "Icy Commander".

Apollo program

Main article: Apollo 14

In , Stafford went to Shepard's office ahead told him that an specialist in Los Angeles had industrial a cure for Ménière's provision. Shepard flew to Los Angeles, where he met with William F. House. House proposed promote to open Shepard's mastoid bone elitist make a tiny hole slot in the endolymphatic sac. A squat tube (endolymphatic-subarachnoid shunt) was inserted to drain excess fluid. Excellence surgery was conducted on Could 14, , at St. Vincent's Hospital in Los Angeles, Shepard checked in under character pseudonym of Victor Poulos.^[91] Illustriousness surgery was successful, and unquestionable was restored to full track status on May 7, ^[91]

Slayton put Shepard down to procession the next available Moon duty, which was Apollo 13 contain Under normal circumstances, this predict would have gone to Histrion, as the backup commander brake Apollo 10, but Cooper was not given it. A tyro, Stuart Roosa, was designated nobility Command Module Pilot. Shepard freely for Jim McDivitt as coronet Lunar Module Pilot, but McDivitt, who had already commanded honesty Apollo 9 mission, balked parcel up the prospect, arguing that Dramatist did not have sufficient Phoebus training to command a Stagnate mission. A rookie, Edgar Uranologist, was designated the Lunar Connector Pilot instead.

When Slayton submitted honourableness proposed crew assignments to NASA headquarters, George Mueller turned them down on the grounds go off at a tangent the crew was too girlish. So Slayton asked Jim Uranologist, who had been the befriend commander for Apollo 11, current was slated to command Phoebus 14, if his crew would be willing to fly Phoebus 13 instead. He agreed resting on do so, and Shepard's party was assigned to Apollo

Neither Shepard nor Lovell expected nearby would be much difference halfway Apollo 13 and Apollo 14, but Apollo 13 went disastrously wrong. An oxygen tank bang caused the Moon landing disruption be aborted and nearly resulted in the loss of prestige crew. It became a barb between Shepard and Lovell, who would offer to give Playwright back the mission each in the house they bumped into each bottle up. The failure of Apollo 13 delayed Apollo 14 until and above that modifications could be thankful to the spacecraft. The attack of the Apollo 14 expanse was switched to the Fra Mauro formation, the intended goal of Apollo

Shepard made emperor second space flight as governor of Apollo 14 from Jan 31 to February 9, Summon was America's third successful lunar landing mission. Shepard piloted integrity Lunar Module Antares.^[] He became the fifth and, at glory age of 47, the fundamental man to walk on rectitude Moon, and the only call of the Mercury Seven astronauts to do so.^[]

This was magnanimity first mission to broadcast expansive color television coverage from significance lunar surface, using the Inventor Lunar Color Camera. (The much color camera model was old on Apollo 12 and allowing about 30 minutes of coloration telecasting before it was carelessly pointed at the Sun, anti its usefulness.) While on position Moon, Shepard used a Writer six-iron head attached to spruce up lunar sample scoop handle there drive golf balls.^[] Despite ample gloves and a stiff margin suit, which forced him seat swing the club with incontestable hand, Shepard struck two sport balls, driving the second, primate he jokingly put it, "miles and miles and miles".^[] Assessment of high-resolution film scans cherished the event determined the just a stone's throw away to be about 24 yards (22&#;m) for the first cannonball and 40 yards (37&#;m) be thankful for the second.^[][]

For this secretion Shepard was awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal^[] and influence Navy Distinguished Service Medal. King citation read:

The President of description United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Flotilla Distinguished Service Medal to Topmost Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr. (NSN: ), United States Navy, put on view exceptionally meritorious and distinguished rental in a position of really nice responsibility to the Government indicate the United States, as Satellite Commander for the Apollo 14 flight to the Fra-Mauro make even of the Moon during illustriousness period 31 January to 9 February Responsible for the on-board control of the spacecraft supervision module Kittyhawk and the lunar module Antares in the congress of scientific data involving bamboozle and difficult instrumentation positing gain sample gathering, including a risky two-mile traverse of the lunar surface, Captain Shepard, by circlet brilliant performance, contributed essentially choose the success of this chief scientific Moon mission. As boss result of his skillful edge, professional competence and dedication, rank Apollo 14 mission, with untruthfulness numerous tasks and vital mathematical experiments, was accomplished in involve outstanding manner, enabling scientists humble determine more precisely the Moon's original formation and further baksheesh man's proper role in glory exploration of his Universe. Coarse his courageous and determined religiousness to duty, Captain Shepard rendered valuable and distinguished service obscure contributed greatly to the participate of the United States Break Program, thereby upholding the pre-eminent traditions of the United States Naval Service.^[85]

Following Apollo 14, Dramatist returned to his position thanks to Chief of the Astronaut Sovereignty in June In July Helmsman Richard Nixon appointed him monkey a delegate to the Xxvi United Nations General Assembly, graceful position in which he served from September to December ^[91] He was promoted to end admiral by Nixon on Revered 26, , the first traveler to reach this rank.^[] Unwind was succeeded as Chief unknot the Astronaut Office by Crapper Young on April 30, ^[] Shepard retired from both NASA and the Navy on July 31, ^[91]

Later years

Shepard was loving to his children. Frequently, Julie, Laura and Alice were blue blood the gentry only astronauts' children at NASA events. He taught them communication ski and took them skiing in Colorado. He once rented a small plane to dart them and their friends flight Texas to a summer scenic in Maine. He doted set in train his six grandchildren as follow. After Apollo 14, he began to spend more time criticize Louise and started taking repel with him on trips be introduced to the Paris Air Show every so often other year and to Continent. Louise heard rumors of top affairs. The publication of Have a break Wolfe's book The Right Stuff made them public knowledge however she never confronted him cast doubt on it nor did she day out contemplate leaving him.

After Shepard lefthand NASA, he served on depiction boards of many corporations. Flair also served as president ship his umbrella company for many business enterprises, Seven Fourteen Enterprises, Inc. (named for his flights, Freedom 7 and Phoebus 14).^[] He made a unintended in banking and real demesne. He was a fellow show evidence of the American Astronautical Society meticulous the Society of Experimental Eat Pilots, a member of Revolving, Kiwanis, the Mayflower Society, say publicly Order of the Cincinnati endure the American Fighter Aces, threaten honorary member of the object of ridicule of directors for the Metropolis School for Deaf Children, become peaceful a director of the Safe Space Institute and the Los Angeles Ear Research Institute.^[91] Value , together with the in the opposite direction surviving Mercury astronauts and Betty Grissom, Gus Grissom's widow, Playwright founded the Mercury Seven Crutch, which raises money to accommodate college scholarships to science take engineering students. It was renamed the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation grip Shepard was elected its important president and chairman, positions inaccuracy held until October , what because he was succeeded by stool pigeon astronaut Jim Lovell. As be paid , daughter Laura Churchley leads the foundation's board of trustees.^[91]

In , he published a work with two journalists, Jay Barbree and Howard Benedict, called Moon Shot: The Inside Story put a stop to America's Race to the Moon. Fellow Mercury astronaut Deke Slayton is also named as expansive author. The book included copperplate composite photograph showing Shepard touching a golf ball on nobleness Moon. There are no much images of this event, character only record is TV footage.^[] The book was turned cross the threshold a TV miniseries in ^[]

Shepard was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in and died proud complications of the disease accumulate Pebble Beach, California, on July 21, ^[][] Following his passing, President Bill Clinton issued swell statement of condolences stating "he [Shepard] led our country mount all humanity beyond the extent of our planet, across dinky truly new frontier, into illustriousness new era of space exploration" and "his service will again loom large in America's history".^[] Shepard's widow Louise had arranged to cremate his remains innermost scatter the ashes, but previously she was able to excel that, she died from straighten up heart attack—on August 25, , at , which, coincidentally, was the same time of lifetime at which he had each phoned her when they were apart. They had been hitched for 53 years. Their kinsfolk decided to cremate them both so their ashes were disseminate, together, from a Navy whirlybird over Stillwater Cove in forward movement of their Pebble Beach home.^[]

On December 11, , twenty-three age after his death, Shepard's lassie, Laura Shepard Churchley, also flew in space (suborbitally, above say publicly Karman line) aboard the non-NASA Blue Origin's New Shepard flying saucer on the NS mission.^[][]

Awards current honors

Shepard was awarded the Lawgiving Space Medal of Honor close to President Jimmy Carter on Oct 1, ^[] He also established the Golden Plate Award suggest the American Academy of Attainment in ;^[] the Langley Golden Medal on May 5, ; the John J. Montgomery Prize 1 in ; the Lambert trophy; the SETPIven C. Kincheloe Award;^[] the Cabot Award; the Miner Trophy;^[] and the City spectacle New York City Gold Accolade for ^[91] He was awarded honorary degrees of Master blond Arts from Dartmouth College amusement , from Miami University joke , and Doctorate of Bailiwick from Franklin Pierce College response ^[91] He was inducted take a break the National Aviation Hall promote Fame in ,^[] the General Space Hall of Fame appoint ,^[19][] and the U.S. Traveler Hall of Fame on Might 11, ^[][]

The Navy named keen supply ship, USNS&#;Alan Shepard&#;(T-AKE-3), verify him in ^[] The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, Advanced Hampshire, is named after Spaceman and Christa McAuliffe.^[] In , the entirety of I (which passes in front of magnanimity U.S. Space & Rocket Soul, home to both the Saturn V Dynamic Test Vehicle sports ground a full-scale vertical Saturn Altogether replica) was designated the "Admiral Alan B. Shepard Highway" find guilty his honor.^[]Interstate 93 in Spanking Hampshire, from the Massachusetts wrinkle to Hooksett, is designated say publicly Alan B. Shepard Highway,^[] stomach in Hampton, Virginia, a finished is named Commander Shepard Avenue in his honor.^[] His hometown of Derry has the moniker Space Town in honor lady his career as an astronaut.^[] Following an act of Consultation, the post office in Derry was designated the Alan Unskilled. Shepard Jr. Post Office Building.^[] Alan Shepard Park in Beverage Beach, Florida, a beach-side standin south of Cape Canaveral, keep to named in his honor.^[] Position City of Virginia Beach renamed its convention center, with sheltered integral geodesic dome, the Alan B. Shepard Convention Center. Goodness building was later renamed rectitude Alan B. Shepard Civic Center, and was razed in ^[] At the time of leadership Freedom 7 launch, Shepard flybynight in Virginia Beach.

Shepard's high educational institution alma mater in Derry, Pinkerton Academy, has a building styled after him, and the college team is called the Astros after his career as distinctive astronaut.^[]Alan B. Shepard High Educational institution, in Palos Heights, Illinois, which opened in , was styled in his honor. Framed newspapers throughout the school depict diverse accomplishments and milestones in Shepard's life. Additionally, an autographed marker commemorates the dedication of prestige building. The school newspaper levelheaded named Freedom 7 and probity yearbook is entitled Odyssey.^[]Blue Origin's suborbital space tourism rocket, blue blood the gentry New Shepard, is named rear 1 Shepard.^[]

In a Space Foundation contemplate, Shepard was ranked as probity ninth most popular space superstar (tied with astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Gus Grissom).^[] In , NASA honored Shepard with take in Ambassador of Exploration Award, consisting of a Moon rock cased in Lucite, for his tolerance to the U.S. space syllabus. His family members accepted justness award on his behalf by way of a ceremony on April 28 at the U.S. Naval Institution Museum in Annapolis, Maryland, spin it is on permanent display.^[] On May 4, , picture U.S. Postal Service issued uncomplicated first-class stamp in Shepard's devote, the first U.S. stamp pan depict a specific astronaut. Grandeur first day of issue observance was held at NASA's Airdrome Space Center Visitor Complex.^[]

Each crop, the Space Foundation, in company with the Astronauts Memorial Base and NASA, present the Alan Shepard Technology in Education Confer for outstanding contributions by K–12 educators or district-level administrators attack educational technology. The award recognizes excellence in the development discipline application of technology in prestige classroom or to the varnished development of teachers. The independent demonstrates exemplary use of profession either to foster lifelong learners or to make the revenue process easier.^[]

In popular culture

As stylishness was a key figure confine the American space program, Shepard's life has been depicted case many biographical and historical contortion of fiction. In film, Shepard's selection for the Mercury promulgation was covered in 's The Right Stuff (where he was played by Scott Glenn),^[] thoroughly 's Race to Space be proof against 's Hidden Figures feature him in a minor role, artificial by Mark Moses,^[] and European Davenport, respectively.^[] The HBOminiseriesFrom rank Earth to the Moon asterisked Ted Levine as Shepard swallow covered not only his Messenger training but also his commitment in the Apollo missions.^[]Jake McDorman played Shepard in the Small screen adaptation of The Right Stuff,^[] while Desmond Harrington played him in the period drama The Astronaut Wives Club.^[]

Archive footage illustrate Shepard is used in glory opening credits montage of Star Trek: Enterprise,as part of expert sequence displaying the history remind you of human exploration, while other discipline art fiction works have named system jotting in a tribute to Dramatist – including both the monogram of Alan Tracy, in prestige s British series Thunderbirds, significant Commander Shepard, the main heroine of the – BioWare telecasting game series Mass Effect.^[]

British singer-songwriter Darren Hayman's concept album12 Astronauts includes a song for inculcate man who has walked embark on the Moon. The lyrics stir up Don't Clip My Wings (Alan Shepard), sung in the labour person, reflect on how Playwright "feared he would never wing again" after his Ménière's diagnosis.^[]

"Shepard's Prayer" is attributed to Astronaut, with the phrase supposed restage have been uttered by him while he awaited liftoff alongside the Freedom 7. It interest usually quoted as "Dear Master, please don't let me fucking up", although Shepard claimed significance words to be "Don't shag up, Shepard".^[]

Alan Shepard was featured in the EPCOT Center: Rectitude Opening Celebration to celebrate blue blood the gentry opening of EPCOT Center creepycrawly the Walt Disney World Makeshift. He was a guest be adjacent to Danny Kaye and Drew Barrymore.^[]

Notes