- The birthday of the day is the 18th of November, 1923
- Died At Age: 74
- Sun Sign: Scorpio
- Also Known As: Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr., Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr.
- Born in: Derry
- Famous as: Astronaut, Aviator, Entrepreneur
- Spouse/Ex-: Louise Brewer
- father his name: Major Colonel Alan B. Shepard, Sr.
- mother: Renza Shepard
- Children: Juliana, Laura
- Died on July 21st, 1998
- the place for death Monterey
- U.S. State: New Hampshire
- Education: Naval War College, Admiral Farragut Academy
- Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross
Congressional Space Medal of Honor
NASA Exceptional Service Medal
National Aviation Hall of Fame
who is Alan Shepard?
Alan Shepard was the first American to go into space. He was the second person to go into space after Soviet Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. His career began as a navy officer, aboard the destroyer USS Cogswell which was in active service within the Pacific Ocean. After his flight training was completed, he was assigned to the “Fighter Squadron 42′ (VF-42) to fly the ‘Vought Corsair. He attended the United US Navy Test Pilot School’ and later conducted high-altitude flying tests. Shepard was among the 7 test pilots chosen to participate in NASA’s space program’ and was a national hero following his first space flight. He was the commander of the first manned “Gemini” mission, the next step in NASA’s US space program following the “Mercury” series. Shepard was the leader of the ‘Apollo 14 mission that was America’s 3rd successful landing on Moon. He was the fifth and most senior person to ever walk on the Moon. Moon at 47 years old. He was elevated to rear admiral within the US Navy, prior to his retirement and then spent the remainder of his life near to his family. Leukemia was the cause of death in the year 1998.
Childhood and Early Life
His birthplace was Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. on the 18th of November 1923 located in Derry, New Hampshire, US. He was the son of Alan B Shepard Sr. was employed by the Derry National Bank and was a member of the National Guard. He was part of the American Expeditionary Force during the war in France throughout World War II. The mother of his son, Pauline Renza Shepard, was a household worker. He had an older sister who was named Pauline and was called Polly.
Shepard was an outstanding student in the school. He skipped sixth grade when he was studying at the ‘Adams School’, and later did not attend the eighth grade in “Oak Street School. He continued to finish his private schooling at the ‘Pinkerton’ Academy in Derry.
When he was in school at the time, he was fascinated with airplanes and built models of planes. He would often ride to Manchester Airfield’ to perform odd jobs, in exchange for rides on occasion and uninitiated flying classes.
He was a candidate for the entrance exam for the ‘United States Naval Academy’ back in the year 1940 however he was not yet 18. He was a student at the ‘Admiral-Farragut Academy before he was accepted into the Naval Academy in the year 1941. He was awarded numerous awards for his sailing and swimming. He was commissioned as an Ensign in June 1944, and earned the BS certificate from the United American Naval Academy.’
Career
Shepard began his naval career in August 1944, aboard the destroyer USS Cogswell that was in active service within the Pacific Ocean. He was assigned the position of a gunnery officer . He was in charge of operating the ship’s 20mm and 40 mm weapons in the fight against Japanese “kamikazes.” It was in order to provide him with an opportunity to experience the vessel prior to his first time flying.
He began his flight training at the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi situated in Texas beginning in the month of January, 1946. He after that, he completed his more advanced instruction at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida. He was awarded the naval aviator wings following six successful landings on the USS Saipan in 1947.
He was assigned to the ‘Fighter squadron 42’ (VF-42) to fly the ‘Vought F4U ‘ Corsair in his first assignment out of the Naval Air Station Norfolk in Virginia and then embarked on his first cruise, which was in the Caribbean region, aboard the “Franklin Roosevelt” in 1948.
The year was 1950. He was a student at the ‘United States Naval Pilot School’ and subsequently performed high-altitude tests in order to gather details for refueling during flight. The next job he was assigned to was the night-fighter squadron “VF-193” which was stationed for in the Korean War.
Following his time in the military, he was enrolled at the Naval War College located in Newport, Rhode Island, which he attended until 1957. He then joined on the team of commander-in chief of the ‘Atlantic Fleet.’
Shepard was among the 7 test pilots who were selected to participate in NASA’s space program’ in the year 1959. After a rigorous training program and fitness He was selected for the role of the initial American astronaut to launch into space in the “MR-3” mission in May of 1961. He became the second person to go into space following Soviet Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, who had space-flighted around space around the Earth in April of the same year.
He was a hero to the nation following the incident and was presented with the ‘NASA Distinguished Service Award from The President John F Kennedy. He was a capsule communicator for the ‘Mercury Atlas 6 in February of 1962 as well as scheduled to be the pilot of the ‘Mercury-Atlas 10’ in the year following. But, the mission was cancelled, and he was appointed the commanding officer of the first manned “Gemini” mission that was the next stage of NASA’s US space program. This required the launch of a crew of two people into space.
Due to a string of negative health conditions, Shepard had to be removed from flying duties. He was appointed “Chief of the Astronaut Office,” the highest-ranking leadership position for NASA astronauts in active service, in November 1963. He was in charge of training astronauts and organizing missions.
After being operated on and then declared fit for flight, Shepard was nominated as the commander of the “Apollo 14′ mission which made America’s second successful landing to the Moon during February of 1971. He became the fifth and the eldest person to step foot across the Moon at the age of 47.
In appreciation of his contributions towards the US space program He was appointed delegate to the 26th General Assembly of the United Nations and was elevated into the position of rear admiral within the US Navy. retiring in 1971.
Major Works
He wrote his book “Moon Shot: The True The Story Behind America’s Race to the Moon, which was turned into a miniseries for television.
Awards and Achievements
Alan Shepard was the recipient of numerous honors such as the “Congressional Space Medal of Honor Golden Plate Award’ in ‘Science and Exploration The “Langley Gold Medal,” as well as the John J. Montgomery Award.’
The inductee was inducted into National Aviation Hall of Honor’ in the year 1977. the International Space Hall of Fame from 1981. He was also inducted into then the “US Astronaut Hall of Fame’ in 1990.
Personal Life & Legacy
He secretly became engaged with Louise Brewer in 1944, while still at the Naval Academy. They planned to marry one year later, but they could not be together for long due to his service in the ‘US Navy. However the couple made it a point to stay in contact to her through the conflict. After the war they had two children called Laura as well as Julie.
Louise’s sister, who passed away in 1956 and had a child, Judith Williams, whom they were able to raise and changed the name to Alice. While Shepard was believed to have had a number of relationships however, his wife was unable to challenge him, and the couple led their lives as normal. They had children later.
In the latter half of 1963 the doctor diagnosed him with Meniere’s disease. It was an illness that causes periods of extreme dizziness as well as nausea, for which he was required to be taken off flying. Additionally, he needed to undergo surgery for thyroid and this was an interruption to his life being an astronaut.
In the year 1969, he treated for his illness successfully at the “St. Vincent’s Hospital’ in Los Angeles After which the doctor declared him to be able to fly.
After retirement after his retirement, he earned a fortune in banking and was a part of the board of directors for numerous institutions until the time of his death, which was due to leukemia. July 1998.
Trivia
In the final years of his professional career, the entrepreneur made investments in real estate, banks and exploration for oil. He was a co-owner of the ‘Baytown Bank’ and also bought an investment in the ranch of Texas.
Alan Shepard Physical Status
| Height | 1.77m |
| Weight | Not yet updated |
| Hair Colour | Black |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Size of shoe | 8 |
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Alan Shepard Net Worth
| Net Worth | Not yet updated |
| Sellery 2021 | Not yet updated |
| Verification Status of Wealth | Not Verified |
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