Biographies of U.S. Astronauts

Shepard

Alan Bartlett, Jr. "Al"

USA

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Personal data

Birthdate:  18.11.1923
Birthplace:  East Derry, New Hampshire
Marital status:  married
Children:  two
Selection date:  02.04.1959
Selection group:  NASA-1
Position:  CDR
Status:  Ret. 01.08.1974
Date of death:  21.07.1998
Place of death:  Monterey, California

Spaceflights

No. Mission Position Time Duration
1  Apollo 14  CDR  31.01. - 09.02.1971 9d 00h 01m 
2        
3        
4        
5        
6        
7        
Total  9d 00h 01m 
         

Suborbital Spaceflights above the Karman line (100 km)

No. Mission Position Date Duration
1  Mercury 3  Pilot  05.05.1961 15m 22s 

Backup assignments

No. Mission Position
1  Mercury 9  Pilot

Additional information

Bachelor of science from U.S. Naval Academy, 1944; two honorary doctorates; Rear Admiral, USN, ret.; test pilot; he was the first American to fly in Space (Mercury 3, sub-orbital flight); from 1964 - 1970 grounded by NASA because of inner ear complications (Meniere's syndrome); Chief of Astronaut Office from 1971 to 1974; later Marathon Construction; then President, Seven Fourteen Enterprises, Houston; he died of leukemia.

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Last update on February 27, 2020.

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