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First US manned space flight, 1961


First US manned space flight, 1961


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First US manned space flight, 1961

First US manned space flight, 1961. Redstone rocket launching the Freedom 7 capsule into space on 5th May 1961. This mission (Mercury-Redstone 3) launched Alan Shepherd into space as part of the Mercury program, making him the first US astronaut to travel into space, and the second person worldwide after Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin - who had made his flight in April of that year. Shepherds flight lasted less than 16 minutes, reaching a height of 187 kilometres. Unlike Gagarin, Shepherd did not orbit the Earth. Photographed on 5th May 1961, at Launch Complex 5 (LC-5), Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA

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Media ID 6333299

© NASA/VRS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

1900s 1960s 1961 Ascending Blast Off Capsule Cherry Picker Florida Kennedy Space Center Launch Launching Lifting Off Manned Spaceflight Mercury Program Mission Nasa North American Prepared Programme Rocket Space Craft Space Flight Take Off Taking Off Us A Alan Shepard Launch Tower


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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a pivotal moment in history - the first manned space flight by the United States in 1961. The image showcases the awe-inspiring sight of a Redstone rocket launching the Freedom 7 capsule into space on May 5th, marking a significant milestone for human exploration beyond Earth's atmosphere. Part of NASA's Mercury program, this mission known as Mercury-Redstone 3 propelled astronaut Alan Shepherd into space, making him the first American to venture beyond our planet. Although his flight lasted less than 16 minutes and did not orbit Earth like Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin had done earlier that year, Shepherd's achievement was monumental. Photographed at Launch Complex 5 (LC-5) in Cape Canaveral, Florida, this snapshot encapsulates both technological prowess and human determination. The white spacecraft stands tall against the backdrop of clear blue skies as it prepares for takeoff. The launch tower and equipment surrounding it highlight the meticulous preparations required for such an extraordinary endeavor. As we gaze upon this historic moment frozen in time, we are reminded of humanity's relentless pursuit of knowledge and exploration. This photograph serves as a testament to mankind's indomitable spirit and its boundless curiosity about what lies beyond our earthly confines.

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