First American in Space

Alan Shepard inside the Freedom 7 during its flight in 1961.

Photo Credit: Photo via Wikipedia labled for reuse undeR Creative Commons License

Alan Shepard inside the Freedom 7 during its flight in 1961.

By: Michael Passarelli, Fall Reporter/Editor

On this day in 1961, Alan Shepard became the first American in space aboard the Freedom 7 space capsule being launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida.