Alan Shepard Facts for Kids

Alan B. Shepard, Jr.
  • Name: Alan B. Shepard, Jr.
  • Born: November 18th, 1923
  • Died: July 21st, 1998
  • Education: U.S. Naval Academy, Naval War College
  • Space Agency: NASA
  • Missions: Mercury-Redstone 3 and Apollo 14

18 Alan Shepard Facts for Kids

  1. Alan Shepard was an American astronaut with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
  2. Alan Shepard was selected to join NASA in the 1959 NASA Group 1, also known as the Mercury Seven, Original Seven and Astronaut Group 1.
  3. Alan Shepard was born on Sunday, November 18th, 1923 in Derry, New Hampshire, USA.
  4. Alan Shepard was the son of Alan B. Shepard Sr. and Pauline Renza Shepard.
  5. Alan Shepard died from leukemia complications on Tuesday, July 21st, 1998 in Pebble Beach, California, USA.
  6. Alan Shepard graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1944 with a Bachelor of Science degree.
  7. Alan Shepard was married to Louise Shepard from 1945 to 1998.
  8. Alan and Louise Shepard had two children together, both were daughters.
  9. Alan Shepard is best known for being the second human and first American to travel in outer space in 1961.
  10. Alan Shepard was also one of the few astronauts to walk on the moon in 1971.
  11. Alan Shepard was a part of two human spaceflight missions, Mercury-Redstone 3 (Freedom 7) and Apollo 14.
  12. The Mercury-Redstone 3 (Freedom 7) mission was the first human spaceflight mission for the United States of America.
  13. The Apollo 14 mission was the 3rd mission by the United States to land humans on the moon.
  14. Alan Shepard spent a total of 9 days and 57 minutes in space.
  15. Alan Shepard did two EVAs (Extravehicular activity) while in space.
  16. Alan Shepard spent a total of 9 hours and 23 minutes doing EVAs.
  17. The highest rank Alan Shepard achieved in the United States Navy was Rear Admiral.
  18. Alan Shepard received several awards throughout his lifetime, including the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross and the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

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