What if YOUR job was to sit on top of a giant firework and blast into outer space?

Blast Off! America's First Astronaut Zooms to Space!

Meet Alan Shepard, the brave pilot who rode a rocket into the unknown

Alan Shepard became the first American in space on a 15-minute rocket ride!

Imagine strapping yourself into a tiny capsule on top of a GIANT rocket, knowing you're about to be blasted into space — where no American had EVER been before! That's exactly what Alan Shepard did on May 5, 1961!

The whole country was watching. Millions of people gathered around their TV sets, holding their breath. Would this work? Was it safe? Nobody knew for sure!

Alan Shepard was a Navy test pilot who wasn't afraid of anything. When scientists asked who wanted to be one of the first astronauts, he said "Pick me!" And they did — he became one of the famous "Mercury Seven" astronauts.

At 9:34 in the morning, the rocket engines ROARED to life! The Freedom 7 capsule shot up, up, UP into the sky. In just over 5 minutes, Shepard was in space! He could see Earth below him — the blue oceans, the fluffy white clouds, everything!

💡 Alan Shepard actually played GOLF on the Moon in 1971 — he hit two golf balls and one flew for miles because there's less gravity up there!