World Book at NASA for Students
Alan Shepard (1923-1998) was the first American to travel in space. He was also the fifth astronaut on the moon.
Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr., was born in East Derry, New Hampshire. He served in World War II (1939-1945) and became a Navy test pilot. In 1959, he was chosen as one of the first astronauts.
In April 1961, Major Yuri Gagarin of the Soviet Union, became the first person to travel in space. On May 5, 1961, less than a month later, Shepard rocketed 117 miles (188 kilometers) into space from Cape Canaveral, Florida. He landed 15 minutes later, 302 miles (486 kilometers) out in the Atlantic Ocean. In 1971, he commanded Apollo 14, the third landing on the moon.
How to cite this article: To cite this article, World Book recommends the following format: "Alan Shepard." The World Book Student Discovery Encyclopedia. Chicago: World Book, Inc., 2005.
Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr., was born in East Derry, New Hampshire. He served in World War II (1939-1945) and became a Navy test pilot. In 1959, he was chosen as one of the first astronauts.
In April 1961, Major Yuri Gagarin of the Soviet Union, became the first person to travel in space. On May 5, 1961, less than a month later, Shepard rocketed 117 miles (188 kilometers) into space from Cape Canaveral, Florida. He landed 15 minutes later, 302 miles (486 kilometers) out in the Atlantic Ocean. In 1971, he commanded Apollo 14, the third landing on the moon.
How to cite this article: To cite this article, World Book recommends the following format: "Alan Shepard." The World Book Student Discovery Encyclopedia. Chicago: World Book, Inc., 2005.
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