On this day, May 5, 1961, "Freedom 7" launched from Cape Canaveral, carrying Alan Shepard, the first American in space.

[JohnnyRingo]

1. I was at that age (8) when he launched and I was spellbound

It filled me with a sense of wonder and resulted in many trips to the library and Bookmobile.
I never lost that inquisitiveness for all things flight and space. I started ordering Estes rocket kits around that time and building my own.

That Redstone rocket doesn't look very confidence building. I wouldn't put myself in that capsule now, but dreamed of it then. It seemed bigger then.


Thanx for posting!