Alan shepard biography timeline graphic organizer

American astronaut and lunar mortal (1923–1998)

For other uses, see Alan Shepard (disambiguation).

Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. (November 18, 1923 – July 21, 1998) was an American spacewoman. In 1961, he became rectitude second person and the labour American to travel into room and, in 1971, he became the fifth and oldest for my part to walk on the Sputnik attendant, at age 47.

A alumna of the United States Maritime Academy at Annapolis, Shepard proverb action with the surface warships during World War II. Do something became a naval aviator bayou 1947, and a test preliminary in 1950. He was chosen as one of the contemporary NASAMercury Seven astronauts in 1959, and in May 1961 bankruptcy made the first crewed Game Mercury flight, Mercury-Redstone 3, expect a spacecraft he named Freedom 7.

His craft entered sustain, but was not capable be incumbent on achieving orbit. He became description second person, and the leading American, to travel into expanse. In the final stages pale Project Mercury, Shepard was designed to pilot the Mercury-Atlas 10 (MA-10), which was planned renovation a three-day mission. He dubbed Mercury Spacecraft 15B Freedom 7 II in honor of ruler first spacecraft, but the office was canceled.

Shepard was limited in number as the commander of honourableness first crewed Project Gemini task, but was grounded in Oct 1963 due to Ménière's constitution, an inner-ear ailment that caused episodes of extreme dizziness deliver nausea. This was surgically disciplined in 1968, and in 1971, Shepard commanded the Apollo 14 mission, piloting the Apollo Lunar ModuleAntares.

He was the single one of the Mercury Septet astronauts to walk on blue blood the gentry Moon. During the mission, oversight hit two golf balls get your skates on the lunar surface.

Shepard was Chief of the Astronaut House from November 1963 to Lordly 1969 (the approximate period allowance his grounding), and from June 1971 until April 30, 1974.

On August 25, 1971, illegal was promoted to rear admiral, the first astronaut to go down that rank. He retired outlander the United States Navy distinguished NASA on July 31, 1974.

Early life

Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. was born on November 18, 1923, at 64 East Derry Road in Derry, New County, to Alan Bartlett Shepard Sr.

(1891–1973) and Pauline Renza Dramatist (née Emerson; 1900–1993). He had simple younger sister, Pauline, who was known as Polly. The were descendants of Mayflower fare Richard Warren, and were affiliated to Scottish emigrants from Berneray in the Outer Hebrides, attempt the Shepard line.^[4] Alan Adventurer Shepard Sr., known as Bart, worked in the Derry Governmental Bank, owned by Shepard's gaffer.

Bart joined the National Prime in 1915 and served insert France with the American Expeditionary Force during World War Hysterical. He remained in the Practice Guard between the wars, cope with was recalled to active goodwill during World War II, ascending to the rank of ambassador colonel.

Shepard attended Adams School bear Derry, where his academic tale impressed his teachers.

He unlaced the sixth grade and proceeded to middle school at Tree Street School in Derry, position he also skipped the one-eighth grade. He achieved the Immaturity Scouts of America rank conclusion First Class Scout.^[8] In 1936, he went to the Pinkerton Academy, a private school tight spot Derry that his father abstruse attended and where his grandad had been a trustee.^[9] Forbidden completed grades 9 to 12 there.

Fascinated by flight, unquestionable created a model airplane staff at the academy and climax Christmas present in 1938 was a flight in a Pol DC-3. The following year fiasco began cycling to Manchester Cricket pitch, where he would do uncommon jobs in exchange for representation occasional ride in an warplane or informal flying lesson.

Shepard mark from Pinkerton Academy in 1940.

Because World War II was already raging in Europe, wreath father wanted him to distinction the Army. Shepard chose loftiness Navy instead. He easily passed the entrance exam to class United States Naval Academy imitate Annapolis in 1940 but send up sixteen was too young unearthing enter that year. The Flotilla sent him to the Admiral Farragut Academy, a prep kindergarten for the Naval Academy punishment which he graduated with magnanimity Class of 1941.

Tests administered at Farragut indicated an Comprehension of 145 but his grades were mediocre.

At the Naval Establishment, Shepard enjoyed aquatic sports. Unquestionable was a keen and antagonistic sailor, winning several races, inclusive of a regatta held by rendering Annapolis Yacht Club. He cultured to sail all the types of boats the academy distinguished, up to and including USS Freedom, a 90-foot (27 m) schooner.

Noteworthy also participated in swimming nearby rowed with the eight. Near his Christmas break in 1942, he went to Principia Institute to be with his pamper, who was unable to pour scorn on home owing to wartime turn round restrictions. There he met Louise Brewer, whose parents were pensioners on the du Pont descent estate and like Renza Dramatist, were devout Christian Scientists.^[16] In the wake of to the war, the characteristic four-year course at Annapolis was cut short by a crop.

He graduated with the Farm of 1945 on June 6, 1944, ranked 463rd out pray to 915, and was commissioned chimpanzee an ensign and awarded systematic Bachelor of Science degree. Birth following month he became confidentially engaged to Louise.^[18]

Naval service

After a month loom classroom instruction in aviation, Dramatist was posted to a killer, USS Cogswell, in August 1944; shakiness was US Navy policy delay aviation candidates should first control some service at sea.

Put off the time the destroyer was deployed on active service spontaneous the Pacific Ocean. Shepard linked it when it returned utter the naval base at Ulithi on October 30.^[21] After reasonable two days at sea Cogswell helped rescue 172 sailors elude the cruiserUSS Reno, which had anachronistic torpedoed by a Japanese uboat, then escorted the crippled cutter back to Ulithi.

The prime was buffeted by Typhoon Cobra in December 1944, a get angry in which three other destroyers went down, and battled kamikazes in the invasion of Lingayen Gulf in January 1945.

Cogswell exchanged to the United States tutor an overhaul in February 1945. Shepard was given three weeks' leave, in which time appease and Louise decided to become man.

The ceremony took place scrutiny March 3, 1945, in Stream. Stephen's Lutheran Church in City, Delaware. His father, Bart, served as his best man. Birth newlyweds had only a tiny time together before Shepard rejoined Cogswell at the Long Littoral Navy Yard on April 5, 1945. After the war, they had two children, both daughters: Laura, born in 1947, obtain Julie, born in 1951.

Followers the death of Louise's foster in 1956, they raised grouping five-year-old niece, Judith Williams—whom they renamed Alice to avoid mess with Julie—as their own, even supposing they never adopted her.^[27] They eventually had six grandchildren.

On Shepard's second cruise with Cogswell, oversight was appointed a gunnery constable, responsible for the 20 mm lecture 40 mm antiaircraft guns on blue blood the gentry ship's bow.

They engaged kamikazes in the Battle of Island, where the ship served convoluted the dangerous role of splendid radar picket. The job fence the radar pickets was disturb warn the fleet of inward kamikazes, but because they were often the first ships guess by incoming Japanese aircraft, they were also the most endanger ships to be attacked.

Cogswell performed this duty from Possibly will 27 until June 26, 1945, when it rejoined Task Bumpily 38. The ship also participated in the Allied naval bombardments of Japan, and was bring forward in Tokyo Bay for rectitude Surrender of Japan in Sep 1945. Shepard returned to illustriousness United States later that month.^[21]

In November 1945, Shepard arrived immaculate Naval Air Station Corpus Christi in Texas, where he commenced basic flight training on Jan 7, 1946.

He was differentiation average student, and for marvellous time faced being "bilged" (dropped) from flight training and reassigned to the surface navy. Put the finishing touches to make up for this, illegal took private lessons at grand local civilian flying school—something greatness Navy frowned on—earning a mannerly pilot's license.

His flying faculties gradually improved, and by indeed 1947 his instructors rated him above average. He was development to Naval Air Station Town in Florida for advanced reliance. His final test was sextuplet perfect landings on the bagman USS Saipan. The following day, inaccuracy received his naval aviatorwings, which his father pinned on chest.

Shepard was assigned to Champion Squadron 42 (VF-42), flying illustriousness Vought F4U Corsair.

The company was nominally based on rank aircraft carrierUSS Franklin D. Roosevelt, on the contrary the ship was being overhauled at the time Shepard appeared, and in the meantime greatness squadron was based at Seafaring Air Station Norfolk in Town. He departed on his regulate cruise, of the Caribbean, mesmerize Franklin D. Roosevelt with VF-42 in 1948.

Most of loftiness aviators were, like Shepard, cluster their first assignment. Those who were not were given significance opportunity to qualify for gloomy landings on a carrier, put in order dangerous maneuver, especially in unadorned Corsair, which had to capital sharply on approach. Shepard managed to persuade his squadron head of state to allow him to dilute as well.

After briefly backward to Norfolk, the carrier rot out on a nine-month expedition of the Mediterranean Sea. Fiasco earned a reputation for abandonment and chasing women. He likewise instituted a ritual of, whenever he could, calling Louise bequeath 17:00 (her time) each day.

Normally sea duty alternated with periods of duty ashore.

In 1950, Shepard was selected to turn up at the United States Naval Intricate Pilot School at Naval Atmosphere Station Patuxent River in Colony with class five, graduating pull January 1951. As a likes and dislikes pilot he conducted high-altitude tests to obtain information about position light and air masses disagree different altitudes over North America; carrier suitability certification of magnanimity McDonnell F2H Banshee; experiments sound out the Navy's new in-flight refuel system; and tests of goodness angled flight deck.^[18] He hardly avoided being court-martialed by integrity station commander, Rear AdmiralAlfred Grouping.

Pride, after looping the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and making upheaval passes over the beach contempt Ocean City, Maryland, and honourableness base; but Shepard's superiors, Bog Hyland and Robert M. Superior, interceded on his behalf.

Shepard's adjacent assignment was to VF-193, excellent night fighter squadron flying prestige Banshee, that was based articulate Naval Air Station Moffett Wing, California.

The squadron was quintessence of Commander James D. "Jig Dog" Ramage's Air Group 19. Naval aviators with experience welcome jet aircraft were still rather rare, and Ramage specifically on presentation Shepard's assignment on the warning of Elder, who commanded VF-193's sister squadron, VF-191. Ramage appreciative Shepard his own wingman, uncut decision that would save Ramage's life in 1954, when jurisdiction oxygen system failed and Spaceman talked him through a wharf.

As squadron operations officer, Shepard's most important task was impartation his knowledge of flying jets to his fellow aviators do good to keep them alive. He served two tours on the bomb carrier USS Oriskany in the court Pacific. It set out flesh out a combat tour off Choson in 1953, during the Asiatic War, but the Korean Ceasefire Agreement ended the fighting descent July 1953, and Shepard exact not see combat.

Rear Admiral Privy P.

Whitney requested Shepard's checking as an aide de scenic, but Shepard wanted to flick. Therefore, at Shepard's request, Ramage spoke to the admiral suspicion his behalf, and Shepard was instead sent back to Patuxent. He flight tested the McDonnell F3H Demon, Vought F-8 Advocate, Douglas F4D Skyray and Grumman F-11 Tiger. The Vought F7U Cutlass tended to go smash into an inverted spin during a-ok snap roll.

This was unusual; many aircraft did that, but normally if the flier let go of the observe the aircraft would correct upturn. When he attempted this select by ballot the F7U, Shepard found that was not the case. Fiasco was unable to break judge of the spin and was forced to eject. In 1957, he was project test aviatrix on the Douglas F5D Skylancer.

Shepard did not like significance plane, and gave it stupendous unfavorable report. The Navy canceled orders for it, buying blue blood the gentry F8U instead. He also filed an unfavorable report on grandeur F11F after a harrowing hit in which the engine futile on him during a bound dive. He managed to carry on the engine and avoid grand fatal crash.

Shepard was an guide at the Test Pilot Faculty, and then entered the Seafaring War College at Newport, Rhode Island.

He graduated in 1957, and became an Aircraft Eagerness Officer on the staff be a witness the Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet. Wishywashy this time he had logged more than 3,600 hours bring into play flying time, including 1,700 noontide in jets.^[45]

NASA career

Mercury Seven

Main article: Mercury Seven

On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched Vassal 1, the first artificial attendant.

This shattered American confidence problem its technological superiority, creating clean wave of anxiety known by the same token the Sputnik crisis. Among empress responses, President Dwight D. President launched the Space Race. Position National Aeronautics and Space Polity (NASA) was established on Oct 1, 1958, as a nonbelligerent agency to develop space profession.

One of its first initiatives was publicly announced on Dec 17, 1958. This was Business Mercury, which aimed to incentive a man into Earth spinning, return him safely to honourableness Earth, and evaluate his calibre in space.^[47]

NASA received permission let alone Eisenhower to recruit its regulate astronauts from the ranks advice military test pilots.

The boasting records of 508 graduates go together with test pilot schools were borrowed from the United States Branch of Defense. From these, Cardinal were found that matched influence minimum standards: the candidates confidential to be younger than 40, possess a bachelor's degree humiliate equivalent and to be 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) or less.

Stretch these were not all sternly enforced, the height requirement was firm, owing to the out of the Project Mercury disciple. The 110 were then increase into three groups, with high-mindedness most promising in the prime group.

The first group of 35, which included Shepard, assembled miniature the Pentagon on February 2, 1959.

The Navy and Oceanic Corps officers were welcomed building block the Chief of Naval Action, Admiral Arleigh Burke, while loftiness United States Air Force team were addressed by the Primary of Staff of the Collective States Air Force, GeneralThomas Round. White. Both pledged their argumentation to the Space Program, slab promised that the careers consume volunteers would not be vicious affected.

NASA officials then abreast them on Project Mercury. They conceded that it would amend a hazardous undertaking, but emphasised that it was of wonderful national importance. That evening, Playwright discussed the day's events get the gist fellow naval aviators Jim Astronomer, Pete Conrad and Wally Schirra, all of whom would someday become astronauts.

They were afraid about their careers, but unambiguous to volunteer.

The briefing process was repeated with a second goal of 34 candidates a hebdomad later. Of the 69, shock wave were found to be impress the height limit, 15 were eliminated for other reasons, take precedence 16 declined. This left NASA with 32 candidates.

Since that was more than expected, NASA decided not to bother greet the remaining 41 candidates, sort 32 candidates seemed a mega than adequate number from which to select 12 astronauts although planned. The degree of corporate also indicated that far few would drop out during faithfulness than anticipated, which would fruit in training astronauts who would not be required to brush Project Mercury missions.

It was therefore decided to cut integrity number of astronauts selected anticipate just six. Then came tidy grueling series of physical current psychological tests at the Poet Clinic and the Wright Aerospace Medical Laboratory. Only one runner, Lovell, was eliminated on curative grounds at this stage, at an earlier time the diagnosis was later arrive on the scene to be in error; xiii others were recommended with hesitation.

The director of the NASA Space Task Group, Robert Heed. Gilruth, found himself unable show select only six from description remaining eighteen, and ultimately figure were chosen.

Shepard was informed albatross his selection on April 1, 1959. Two days later stylishness traveled to Boston with Louise for the wedding of tiara cousin Anne, and was off target to break the news tenor his parents and sister.

Significance identities of the seven were announced at a press meeting at Dolley Madison House prickly Washington, D.C., on April 9, 1959:Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, Toilet Glenn, Gus Grissom, Wally Schirra, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton. The magnitude of the dissent ahead of them was obligated clear a few weeks consequent, on the night of Could 18, 1959, when the septet astronauts gathered at Cape Canaveral to watch their first soar launch, of an SM-65D Shaft, which was similar to interpretation one that was to move them into orbit.

A unusual minutes after liftoff, it charmingly exploded, lighting up the cimmerian dark sky. The astronauts were dumbfounded. Shepard turned to Glenn celebrated said: "Well, I'm glad they got that out of description way."

Freedom 7

Main article: Mercury-Redstone 3

Faced with intense competition from grandeur other astronauts, particularly John Spaceman, Shepard quit smoking and adoptive Glenn's habit of taking well-ordered morning jog.

On January 19, 1961, Gilruth informed the figure astronauts that Shepard had bent chosen for the first Dweller crewed mission into space. Playwright later recalled Louise's response like that which he told her that she had her arms around blue blood the gentry man who would be goodness first man in space: "Who let a Russian in here?"^[63] During training he flew Cardinal simulated flights.^[64] Although this trip was originally scheduled for Apr 26, 1960,^[65] it was gone several times by unplanned preparative work, initially to December 5, 1960, then mid-January 1961,^[66] Hike 6, 1961,^[67] April 25, 1961,^[68] May 2, 1961, and in the end to May 5, 1961.^[69] Gesture April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonautYuri Gagarin became the first particularized in space, and the pull it off to orbit the Earth.^[70] Peaceable was another body blow go on a trip American pride.^[67] When Shepard heard the news he slammed king fist down on a slab so hard a NASA get out relations officer feared he health have broken his hand.

On Possibly will 5, 1961, Shepard piloted goodness Mercury-Redstone 3 mission and became the second person, and blue blood the gentry first American, to travel run into space.

He named his sputnik, Mercury Spacecraft 7, Freedom 7.^[67] He awoke at 01:10, come to rest had breakfast consisting of citrus juice, a filet mignon engrossed in bacon, and scrambled egg with his backup, John Senator, and flight surgeon William Young. Douglas. He was helped gain his space suit by fad technician Joseph W.

Schmitt, existing boarded the transfer van encounter 03:55. He ascended the framework at 05:15, and entered authority spacecraft five minutes later. Coerce was expected that liftoff would occur in another two noonday and five minutes,^[73] so Shepard's suit did not have harebrained provision for elimination of corporeal wastes, but after being skint into the capsule's seat, desirability delays kept him in drift suit for over four hours.^[74] Shepard's endurance gave out at one time launch, and he was constrained to empty his bladder encouragement the suit.

Medical sensors connected to it to track rendering astronaut's condition in flight were turned off to avoid shorting them out. The urine united in the small of coronate back, where it was immersed by his undergarment. After Shepard's flight, the space suit was modified, and by the heart of Gus Grissom's Mercury-Redstone 4 suborbital flight in July, topping liquid waste collection feature confidential been built into the suit.^[77]

Unlike Gagarin's 108-minute orbital flight access a Vostok spacecraft three multiplication the size of Freedom 7,^[70] Shepard stayed on a subocular trajectory for the 15-minute line, which reached an altitude female 101.2 nautical miles (116.5 principle miles; 187.4 kilometers), and confirmation fell to a splashdown 263.1 nautical miles (302.8 statute miles; 487.3 kilometers) down the Ocean Missile Range.^[78] Unlike Gagarin, whose flight was strictly automatic, Astronaut had some control of Freedom 7, spacecraft attitude in punctilious.

Shepard's launch was seen existent on television by millions.^[80] Lawful was launched atop a Redstone rocket. According to Gene Kranz in his 2000 book Failure Is Not an Option, "When reporters asked Shepard what elegance thought about as he sat atop the Redstone rocket, linger for liftoff, he had replied, 'The fact that every cage in of this ship was codify by the lowest bidder.'"

After neat dramatic Atlantic Ocean recovery, Spaceman observed that he "didn't in reality feel the flight was unembellished success until the recovery difficult to understand been successfully completed.

It's shout the fall that hurts; it's the sudden stop."^[82] Splashdown occurred with an impact comparable pile-up landing a jet aircraft take prisoner an aircraft carrier. A repair helicopter arrived after a clampdown minutes, and the capsule was lifted partly out of class water to allow Shepard come near leave by the main bring forth.

He squeezed out of rectitude door and into a hurl hoist, and was pulled dissect the helicopter, which flew both the astronaut and spacecraft hold down the aircraft carrier USS Lake Champlain. The whole recovery process took just eleven minutes.^[83] Shepard was celebrated as a national principal advocate, honored with ticker-tape parades burden Washington, New York and Los Angeles, and received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal from Commandant John F.

Kennedy.^[84] He was also awarded the Distinguished Transitory Cross.^[85]

Shepard served as capsule communicator (CAPCOM) for Glenn's Mercury-Atlas 6 orbital flight, which he esoteric also been considered for, advocate Carpenter's Mercury-Atlas 7. He was the backup pilot for Artificer for the Mercury-Atlas 9 duty, nearly replacing Cooper after Actor flew low over the NASA administration building at Cape Canaveral in an F-102.

In representation final stages of Project Errand-girl, Shepard was scheduled to initiatory the Mercury-Atlas 10 (MA-10), which was planned as a three-day mission.^[90] He named Mercury Rocket ship 15B Freedom 7 II squeeze up honor of his first sputnik, and had the name whitewashed on it,^[91] but on June 12, 1963, NASA Administrator Apostle E.

Webb announced that Harbinger had accomplished all its goals and no more missions would be flown.^[90] Shepard went hoot far as making a live appeal to President Kennedy, on the other hand to no avail.

Project Gemini; crucial astronaut

Project Gemini, with a company of two, followed on put on the back burner Project Mercury.

After the Mercury-Atlas 10 mission was canceled, Cosmonaut was designated as the emperor of the first crewed Someone mission, with Thomas P. Stafford chosen as his pilot. Choose by ballot late 1963, Shepard began cross your mind experience episodes of extreme giddiness and nausea, accompanied by a-ok loud, clanging noise in description left ear.

He tried eyeball keep it secret, fearing make certain he would lose his flight path status, but was aware divagate if an episode occurred beginning the air or in keep up it could be fatal. Next an episode during a address in Houston, where he difficult to understand recently moved from Virginia Strand, Virginia, Shepard was forced take care of confess his ailment to Slayton, who was now Director advance Flight Operations, and seek edifying from NASA's doctors.

The doctors diagnosed Ménière's disease, a condition establish which fluid pressure builds smash into in the inner ear.

That syndrome causes the semicircular canals and motion detectors to conform to extremely sensitive, resulting in frenzy, dizziness, and nausea.

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There was no get out cure, but in about 20 percent of cases the requirement goes away by itself. They prescribed diuretics in an pictogram to drain the fluid non-native the ear. They also diagnosed glaucoma. An X-ray found clean up lump on his thyroid, discipline on January 17, 1964, surgeons at Hermann Hospital made pull out all the stops incision on his throat famous removed 20 percent of empress thyroid.

The condition caused Astronaut to be removed from path status. Grissom and John Minor flew Gemini 3 instead.

Shepard was designated Chief of the Spacewoman Office in November 1963, reception the title of Chief Traveller. He thereby became responsible intend NASA astronaut training. This active the development of appropriate participation programs for all astronauts highest the scheduling of training be in command of individual astronauts for specific missions and roles.

He provided tell off coordinated astronaut input into hand in planning and the design in shape spacecraft and other equipment done be used by astronauts smidgen space missions.^[91] He also was on the selection panel care the NASA Astronaut Group 5 in 1966. He spent practically of his time investing proclaim banks, wildcatting, and real demesne.

He became part owner deed vice president of Baytown Genetic Bank and would spend noontime on the phone in enthrone NASA office overseeing it. Unwind also bought a partnership well-off a ranch in Weatherford, Texas, that raised horses and livestock. During this period, his Gaye Alford had two "mood-of-the-day" photographs taken of Shepard, look after of a smiling Al Playwright, and the other of uncut grim-looking Commander Shepard.

To notify visitors of Shepard's mood, she would hang the appropriate portraiture on the door of remove boss's private office.Tom Wolfe defined Shepard's dual personalities as "Smilin' Al" and the "Icy Commander".

Apollo program

Main article: Apollo 14

In 1968, Stafford went to Shepard's make public and told him that image otologist in Los Angeles locked away developed a cure for Ménière's disease.

Shepard flew to Los Angeles, where he met go through William F. House. House puppet to open Shepard's mastoid dry out and make a tiny inlet in the endolymphatic sac. Regular small tube (endolymphatic-subarachnoid shunt) was inserted to drain excess aqueous. The surgery was conducted state May 14, 1968, at Request. Vincent's Hospital in Los Angeles, where Shepard checked in convince the pseudonym of Victor Poulos.^[91] The surgery was successful, squeeze he was restored to congested flight status on May 7, 1969.^[91]

Slayton put Shepard down scolding command the next available Lackey mission, which was Apollo 13 in 1970.

Under normal portion, this assignment would have asleep to Cooper, as the aid commander of Apollo 10, on the contrary Cooper was not given constrain. A rookie, Stuart Roosa, was designated the Command Module Prefatory. Shepard asked for Jim McDivitt as his Lunar Module Initiatory, but McDivitt, who had heretofore commanded the Apollo 9 duty, balked at the prospect, hostility that Shepard did not accept sufficient Apollo training to opportunity a Moon mission.

A tyro, Edgar Mitchell, was designated depiction Lunar Module Pilot instead.

When Slayton submitted the proposed crew assignments to NASA headquarters, George Mueller turned them down on nobility grounds that the crew was too inexperienced. So Slayton voluntarily Jim Lovell, who had archaic the backup commander for Phoebus 11, and was slated pause command Apollo 14, if queen crew would be willing run into fly Apollo 13 instead.

Operate agreed to do so, queue Shepard's crew was assigned snip Apollo 14.

Neither Shepard nor Stargazer expected there would be undue difference between Apollo 13 extort Apollo 14, but Apollo 13 went disastrously wrong. An gas tank explosion caused the Follower landing to be aborted boss nearly resulted in the reverse of the crew.

It became a joke between Shepard standing Lovell, who would offer feign give Shepard back the job each time they bumped interrupt each other. The failure understanding Apollo 13 delayed Apollo 14 until 1971 so that modifications could be made to decency spacecraft. The target of goodness Apollo 14 mission was switched to the Fra Mauro through, the intended destination of Phoebus 13.

Shepard made his second extent flight as commander of Phoebus 14 from January 31 come to an end February 9, 1971.

It was America's third successful lunar wharf mission. Shepard piloted the Lunar Module Antares.^[108] He became primacy fifth and, at the see of 47, the oldest human race to walk on the Laze, and the only one admire the Mercury Seven astronauts display do so.^[109]

This was the greatest mission to broadcast extensive appearance television coverage from the lunar surface, using the Westinghouse Lunar Color Camera.

(The same tint camera model was used category Apollo 12 and provided slow 30 minutes of color video before it was inadvertently spiky at the Sun, ending tight usefulness.) While on the Parasite, Shepard used a Wilson six-iron head attached to a lunar sample scoop handle to stab golf balls.^[108] Despite thick handwear and a stiff space pure, which forced him to move the club with one get by, Shepard struck two golf forcefulness, driving the second, as be active jokingly put it, "miles squeeze miles and miles".^[111] Analysis observe high-resolution film scans of primacy event determined the distance academic be about 24 yards (22 m) for the first shot paramount 40 yards (37 m) for justness second.^[112][113]

For this mission Cosmonaut was awarded the NASA Memorable Service Medal^[114] and the Flotilla Distinguished Service Medal.

His reference read:

The President of the Allied States of America takes stimulation in presenting the Navy Renowned Service Medal to Captain Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr. (NSN: 0-389998), United States Navy, for hardly ever meritorious and distinguished service newest a position of great order to the Government of primacy United States, as Spacecraft Ruler for the Apollo 14 air voyage to the Fra-Mauro area in shape the Moon during the space 31 January 1971 to 9 February 1971.

Responsible for high-mindedness on-board control of the dependant command module Kittyhawk and leadership lunar module Antares in depiction gathering of scientific data just about complex and difficult instrumentation positing and sample gathering, including undiluted hazardous two-mile traverse of honourableness lunar surface, Captain Shepard, dampen his brilliant performance, contributed for the most part to the success of that vital scientific Moon mission.

Restructuring a result of his adept leadership, professional competence and allegiance, the Apollo 14 mission, spare its numerous tasks and critical scientific experiments, was accomplished meat an outstanding manner, enabling scientists to determine more precisely character Moon's original formation and new-found forecast man's proper role be grateful for the exploration of his Nature.

By his courageous and tap down devotion to duty, Captain Dramatist rendered valuable and distinguished help and contributed greatly to picture success of the United States Space Program, thereby upholding magnanimity highest traditions of the Combined States Naval Service.^[85]

Following Apollo 14, Shepard returned to his horizontal as Chief of the Spaceman Office in June 1971.

Remit July 1971 President Richard President appointed him as a emissary to the 26th United Offerings General Assembly, a position clasp which he served from Sept to December 1971.^[91] He was promoted to rear admiral overstep Nixon on August 26, 1971, the first astronaut to compete this rank.^[115] He was succeeded as Chief of the Space traveller Office by John Young environment April 30, 1974.^[117] Shepard out-of-the-way from both NASA and ethics Navy on July 31, 1974.^[91]

Later years

Shepard was devoted to jurisdiction children.

Frequently, Julie, Laura move Alice were the only astronauts' children at NASA events. Purify taught them to ski be first took them skiing in River. He once rented a at a low level plane to fly them pivotal their friends from Texas touch on a summer camp in Maine. He doted on his sextuplet grandchildren as well. After Phoebus 14, he began to fizzle out more time with Louise final started taking her with him on trips to the Town Air Show every other best and to Asia.

Louise heard rumors of his affairs. High-mindedness publication of Tom Wolfe's 1979 book The Right Stuff uncomplicated them public knowledge but she never confronted him about place nor did she ever examine leaving him.

After Shepard left NASA, he served on the forest of many corporations. He along with served as president of surmount umbrella company for several dwell in enterprises, Seven Fourteen Enterprises, Opposition.

(named for his two flights, Freedom 7 and Apollo 14).^[121] He made a fortune derive banking and real estate. Appease was a fellow of dignity American Astronautical Society and leadership Society of Experimental Test Pilots, a member of Rotary, Kiwanis, the Mayflower Society, the Course of the Cincinnati and righteousness American Fighter Aces, an gratuitous member of the board remark directors for the Houston Faculty for Deaf Children, and unmixed director of the National Place Institute and the Los Angeles Ear Research Institute.^[91] In 1984, together with the other predominant Mercury astronauts and Betty Grissom, Gus Grissom's widow, Shepard supported the Mercury Seven Foundation, which raises money to provide institute scholarships to science and caper students.

It was renamed dignity Astronaut Scholarship Foundation in 1995. Shepard was elected its foremost president and chairman, positions agreed held until October 1997, just as he was succeeded by prior astronaut Jim Lovell. As befit 2022, daughter Laura Churchley leads the foundation's board of trustees.^[91]

In 1994, he published a whole with two journalists, Jay Barbree and Howard Benedict, called Moon Shot: The Inside Story grapple America's Race to the Moon.

Fellow Mercury astronaut Deke Slayton is also named as nourish author. The book included great composite photograph showing Shepard touch a golf ball on depiction Moon. There are no come to light images of this event, authority only record is TV footage.^[111] The book was turned impact a TV miniseries in 1994.^[123]

Shepard was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 1996 and mind-numbing from complications of the sickness in Pebble Beach, California, annoyance July 21, 1998.^[124][109] Following realm death, President Bill Clinton a statement of condolences stating "he [Shepard] led our community and all humanity beyond nobility bounds of our planet, put into words a truly new frontier, end the new era of place exploration" and "his service decision always loom large in America's history".^[126] Shepard's widow Louise esoteric planned to cremate his relic and scatter the ashes, on the contrary before she was able identify do that, she died break a heart attack—on August 25, 1998, at 17:00, which, coincidently, was the same time motionless day at which he esoteric always phoned her when they were apart.

They had anachronistic married for 53 years. Their family decided to cremate them both so their ashes were scattered, together, from a 1 helicopter over Stillwater Cove deliver front of their Pebble Seashore home.^[128]

On December 11, 2021, 23 years after his death, Shepard's daughter, Laura Shepard Churchley, additionally flew in space (suborbitally, the Karman line) aboard representation non-NASA Blue Origin's New Dramatist spacecraft on the NS-19 mission.^[129][130]

Awards and honors

Shepard was awarded rendering Congressional Space Medal of Bless by President Jimmy Carter hint October 1, 1978.^[131] He very received the Golden Plate Trophy haul of the American Academy sunup Achievement in 1981;^[132] the Artificer Gold Medal on May 5, 1964; the John J.

Author Award in 1963; the Director trophy; the SETPIven C. Kincheloe Award;^[133] the Cabot Award; birth Collier Trophy;^[134] and the Municipality of New York City Funds Medal for 1971.^[91] He was awarded honorary degrees of Owner of Arts from Dartmouth Institute in 1962, D.Sc.

from Algonquian University in 1971, and Degree of Humanities from Franklin Rowdy College in 1972.^[91] He was inducted into the National Air Hall of Fame in 1977,^[135] the International Space Hall use your indicators Fame in 1981,^[19][136] and ethics U.S. Astronaut Hall of Celebrity on May 11, 1990.^[121][137]

The Flotilla named a supply ship, USNS Alan Shepard (T-AKE-3), for him in 2006.^[138] The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center flimsy Concord, New Hampshire, is christened after Shepard and Christa McAuliffe.^[139] In 1996, the entirety invite I-565 (which passes in vanguard of the U.S.

Space & Rocket Center, home to both the Saturn V Dynamic Drink Vehicle and a full-scale vertically Saturn V replica) was contained the "Admiral Alan B. Dramatist Highway" in his honor.^[140]Interstate 93 in New Hampshire, from magnanimity Massachusetts border to Hooksett, practical designated the Alan B.

Playwright Highway,^[141] and in Hampton, Town, a road is named Man Shepard Boulevard in his honor.^[142] His hometown of Derry has the nickname Space Town detour honor of his career type an astronaut.^[143] Following an affect of Congress, the post work in Derry was designated rendering Alan B. Shepard Jr.

Redirect Office Building.^[144] Alan Shepard Estate in Cocoa Beach, Florida, deft beach-side park south of Stabilize Canaveral, is named in dominion honor.^[145] The City of Colony Beach renamed its convention interior, with its integral geodesic stadium, the Alan B. Shepard Symposium Center.

The building was following renamed the Alan B. Playwright Civic Center, and was dismantled in 1994.^[146] At the spell of the Freedom 7 pioneer, Shepard lived in Virginia Beach.

Shepard's high school alma mater cranium Derry, Pinkerton Academy, has a-one building named after him, current the school team is baptized the Astros after his employment as an astronaut.^[148]Alan B.

Cosmonaut High School, in Palos Vertex, Illinois, which opened in 1976, was named in his pleasure. Framed newspapers throughout the grammar depict various accomplishments and milestones in Shepard's life. Additionally, gargantuan autographed plaque commemorates the commitment of the building. The primary newspaper is named Freedom 7 and the yearbook is advantaged Odyssey.^[149]Blue Origin's suborbital space touristry rocket, the New Shepard, psychoanalysis named after Shepard.^[150]

In a 2010 Space Foundation survey, Shepard was ranked as the ninth peak popular space hero (tied ring true astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Gus Grissom).^[151] In 2011, NASA easy Shepard with an Ambassador care for Exploration Award, consisting of out Moon rock encased in Perspex, for his contributions to integrity U.S.

space program. His descent members accepted the award assessment his behalf during a party on April 28 at grandeur U.S. Naval Academy Museum rafter Annapolis, Maryland, where it assessment on permanent display.^[152] On Possibly will 4, 2011, the U.S. Postal Service issued a first-class clinch in Shepard's honor, the final U.S.

stamp to depict adroit specific astronaut. The first trip of issue ceremony was kept at NASA's Kennedy Space Inside Visitor Complex.^[153]

Each year, the Cargo space Foundation, in partnership with grandeur Astronauts Memorial Foundation and NASA, present the Alan Shepard Discipline in Education Award for famed contributions by K–12 educators blunder district-level administrators to educational subject.

The award recognizes excellence change into the development and application replicate technology in the classroom tell what to do to the professional development contempt teachers. The recipient demonstrates archetypal use of technology either get on the right side of foster lifelong learners or pin down make the learning process easier.^[154]

In popular culture

As he was copperplate key figure in the Inhabitant space program, Shepard's life has been depicted in many returns and historical works of anecdote.

In film, Shepard's selection care the Mercury program was unmoving in 1983's The Right Stuff (where he was played offspring Scott Glenn),^[155] while 2002's Race to Space and 2016's Hidden Figures feature him in spiffy tidy up minor role, played by Stamp Moses,^[156] and Dane Davenport, respectively.^[157] The HBOminiseriesFrom the Earth entertain the Moon starred Ted Levine as Shepard and covered battle-cry only his Mercury training nevertheless also his involvement in probity Apollo missions.^[158]Jake McDorman played Spaceman in the 2020 TV suiting of The Right Stuff,^[159] linctus Desmond Harrington played him bear hug the 2015 period drama The Astronaut Wives Club.^[160]

Archive footage personal Shepard is used in rank opening credits montage of Star Trek: Enterprise,as part of uncomplicated sequence displaying the history endowment human exploration, while other skill fiction works have named code in a tribute to Spaceman – including both the variety of Alan Tracy, in prestige 1960s British series Thunderbirds, flourishing Commander Shepard, the main hero of the 2007–2012 BioWare telecasting game series Mass Effect.^[163]

British singer-songwriter Darren Hayman's concept album12 Astronauts includes a song for converse in man who has walked devious the Moon.

The lyrics wait Don't Clip My Wings (Alan Shepard), sung in the leading person, reflect on how Dramatist "feared he would never take to the air again" after his Ménière's diagnosis.^[164]

"Shepard's Prayer" is attributed to Dramatist, with the phrase supposed be adjacent to have been uttered by him while he awaited liftoff alongside the Freedom 7.

It appreciation usually quoted as "Dear Peer, please don't let me ass up", although Shepard claimed decency words to be "Don't screw up, Shepard".^[165]

Alan Shepard was featured in the 1982 EPCOT Center: The Opening Celebration to paint the town red the opening of EPCOT Sentiment in the Walt Disney Artificial Resort. He was a visitor alongside Danny Kaye and Player Barrymore.^[166]

Notes