Project Mercury - Inside The Cocoon
Thursday, May 5, 2011 - 14:30
in Astronomy & Space
50 years ago today Alan Shepard became the first American into space, launching at just after 9AM from the Space Coast of Florida and finishing just over 15 minutes and 117 miles up later. The most famous book (and movie) about the early days of NASA is "The Right Stuff" and it is surprisingly faithful in its telling. Alan Shepard did pee in his suit and then say, after three hours of being immobilized in a tiny capsule, "Why don't you just fix your little problem and light this candle?" but he was also a guy who said, "You know, being a test pilot isn't always the healthiest business in the world" so he understood the risks. 96% chance of survival was acceptable risk. read more