Alan Shepard – First American to travel into space
Posted by Vikas Acharya on January 15, 2026Alan Shepard was an American astronaut, naval aviator, and test pilot best known for being the first American in space.
Key facts:
- Full name: Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr.
- Born: November 18, 1923
- Died: July 21, 1998
- Space program: NASA Mercury & Apollo
Why he’s famous:
- On May 5, 1961, he became the first American to travel into space aboard Freedom 7
- His flight was suborbital and lasted about 15 minutes
- In 1971, he commanded Apollo 14 and became the fifth person to walk on the Moon
- He famously hit golf balls on the Moon 🏌️♂️🌕
Other achievements:
- Reached the rank of Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy
- Helped lead NASA as Chief of the Astronaut Office
