Scrapbook 1: May 1961 — Alan Shepard

UP at 5,100 mph, DOWN at 20 mph—and he wisecracks

‘BOY! WHAT A RIDE!’

Ninety million Americans watched on television the 5,100 m.p.h. rocket-shot that has given a tremendous boost to the nation’s spirits.

One of them was President Kennedy—who telephoned a “Well done” message to Spaceman Shepard from the White House.

In Britain, too, millions followed the thrilling count-down and the progress of the Spaceship on the radio. A reporter who heard it all in the Mirror office in London said: “The tension was terrific. It was like being there.”

MORE FLIGHTS

After this great day for America, what now? Mirror Space Reporter Ronald Bedford cabled from the U.S. Space HQ in Florida last night: “There will be more Man in Space flights in the next few weeks.

“Just before Christmas it is planned to send a Spaceman—probably Shepard again—to orbit the earth three times and land him in the sea at about the same spot as today.”

AT exactly thirteen seconds after 3.34 p.m. (British time) here today, there was a shattering roar.

Flames spurted from the base of a giant, 66ft.-long rocket topped by a tiny, bell-shaped cabin, and . .

W-H-O-O-S-H!—Commander Alan Shepard, 37, was tearing through Space on the flight that thrilled the whole free world.

Up, up into a clear blue sky, then 115 miles into the nothingness of Space flew the gleaming silver cabin carrying America’s first astronaut—and the nation’s hopes.

Fifteen minutes later exactly according to plan and after touching a top speed of 5,100 m.p.h. Shepard’s Spaceship gently parachuted down into the Atlantic.

It landed smack in the target area, 297 miles from the launching pad here in Florida.

This wonderful, exciting day in the life of Spaceman Shepard began at 2 a.m. (American time) when his personal doctor woke him up with a tap on the shoulder.

After a shower and a shave, Shepard breakfasted on a steak rolled in bacon, two poached eggs and orange juice.

At 2.45 he went for a thorough, last-minute medical check-up.

He was wearing Space underwear—specially-padded long underpants.

Just after 3 a.m. he put on his silver 30lb. Spacesuit

There was a series of small delays—passing clouds, slight “technical hitches,” last-minute adjustments.

There was a flurry of excitement as an “emergency” siren wailed. Ambulances rushed to the firing pad—but it was only a technician who had fainted with excitement.

And no wonder. The tension was almost unbearable. “If they paid this guy 1,000,000 dollars to sit up there and face this sort of thing it would not be enough,” said an admiring scientist.

Shepard had been in his Spaceship three-and-a-half hours when the final count-down came: THREE . . . TWO . . . ONE . . . ZERO—and he was off in a roar of flame and followed by a mighty cheer.

Within a minute of the blast-off, as the rocket streaked up leaving a white smoke trail, Shepard’s voice came loud and cleared into the control centre.

His first words were: “WHAT A BEAUTIFUL VIEW!”

Then he began reporting technical information about the flight, all the time calmly and skilfully guiding and manoeuvring his fantastic ship.

PERFECT

Finally, Shepard began to talk to the fleet of waiting ships, telling them his parachute was opening . . . and he was drifting seawards for his 20 m.p.h. landing.

It was a perfect “pick up.”

Before being whisked to the Bahamas for a medical examination Shepard had a “snack” — a shrimp cocktail, a roast beef sandwich and iced tea.

He washed the “snack” down with champagne.

In the Bahamas he was ordered to bed—for a rest.

After all, he had been on a long journey. . . .