NASA and the US Postal Service honored Shepard’s historic

Alan Shepard and MESSENGER Stamps Unveiled at Kennedy Space Center Ceremony

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER 50 Years ago this week, Alan B. Shepard became the first American to be launched into space. Shepard blasted off on May 5, 1961 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. NASA and the US Postal Service honored Shepard’s historic achievement today (May 4) at canada goose uk black friday an Official First canada goose clearance sale Day of Issue dedication ceremony at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Alan Shepard was one of the goose outlet canada seven Project Mercury astronauts who will canada goose outlet store be collectively known for all eternity as «The Original 7».

The US Postal Service simultaneously released two new 44 cent Forever canada goose outlet reviews Stamps at today’s commemoration, which canada goose outlet nyc bookend two historic space achievements Shepard’s inaugural manned buy canada goose jacket spaceflight aboard the Mercury capsule and NASA’s unmanned MESSENGER mission which recently became the first probe from Earth to achieve orbit about the Planet Mercury.

Alan Shepard and MESSENGER First Day of Issue Stamp dedication ceremony at NASA’s Kennedy Space canada goose outlet shop Center on May 4, 2011. Alan Shepard is the only American astronaut to be honored with his image on a US postal stamp. Credit: Ken KremerFellow Mercury Astronaut Scott Carpenter attended the ceremony and unveiled the stamps along with Steve Masse, United States Postal Service Vice President of Finance at the Rocket Garden at the KSC Visitor Complex.

Mercury Astronaut Scott Carpenter poses in front of a Mercury Atlas rocket at the Rocket Garden at KSC. Carpenter was propelled to space by the Atlas rocket as the 2nd American to orbit the Earth on May 24, 1962. Credit: Ken https://www.mild-und-leise.de Kremer

«Today we celebrate the 50th anniversary of many, many important issues, among them is the first steps from the home planet that were taken by the family of man,» said Carpenter.

Although Shepards suborbital flight aboard the one man «Freedom 7» Mercury capsule lasted canada goose outlet new york city barely Canada Goose Parka 15 minutes, the flight ignited America’s Moon landing effort and propelled American Astronaut Neil Armstrong to become the first human Canada Goose sale to set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969 during the Apollo 11 mission one of the crowning canada goose outlet black friday technological achievements of the 20th canada goose outlet canada goose coats Century.

The success of «Freedom 7» emboldened President John F. Kennedy to declare that America «should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the Earth,» just three weeks later on May 20.

«That was largely a response to Alan’s success,» Carpenter told the crowd of assembled officials, journalists and visitors. Also on hand for the stamp dedication was Shepard’s daughter Laura Shepard Churchly; Charles Bolden, NASA Administrator and former shuttle astronaut; Bob Cabana, KSC Director and former shuttle astronaut; and Jim Adams, NASA deputy Canada Goose Jackets director, Planetary Science.

«A decision was made not to put 44 cents on the stamp, but it is forever,» Carpenter emphasized. «It is appropriate to the time we should honor and remember Alan canada goose outlet parka cheap canada goose B Shepard and Freedom 7.»

Alan Shepard display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Credit: Ken KremerShepard’s tiny capsule measured just six feet by six feet, reached a maximum speed of 5,100 MPH, roughly eight times the speed of sound, and a zenith of 116 miles above the Earth. Freedom 7 was bolted atop a Redstone rocket that generated only 78,000 pounds of thrust, followed a ballistic arc and landed 300 miles down range in the ocean.

«These stamps, which canada goose outlet canada will go out by the millions across this country, are a testament to the thousands of NASA men and women who shared dreams of human spaceflight and enlarging our knowledge of the universe,» said Bolden.

Shepard’s flight and MESSENGER both blasted off from launch pads quite close to one another at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station which is adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center.

Mercury Astronaut Scott Carpenter is applauded at tribute to Alan B. Shepard, first American in Space ceremony at the Rocket Garden at KSC on May 4, 2011. Credit: Ken KremerOn Thursday May 5, watch for my on site coverage of NASA’s special ceremony marking the 50th Anniversary of Shepard’s milestone «Freedom 7» mission and an interview with Scott Carpenter.

Shepard’s mission came barely three weeks after Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the canada goose outlet Earth. The bold flights of these brave Cosmonauts and Astronauts backed by a few insightful political leaders began the Era of Human Spaceflight. As the shuttle program winds to Canada Goose Online a close, the future of US Human Spaceflight is very uncertain.

Read my related articles about Yuri Gagarin and the 50th Anniversary of Human Spaceflight:

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Countdown to Yuri’s Night and the 50th Anniversary of Human Spaceflight!

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NASA Administrator and former shuttle astronaut Charles Bolden praises Alan Shepard at KSC stamp unveiling ceremony on May 4, 2011. Credit: Ken KremerShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window)MoreClick to email this to a friend (Opens in new window).