2-860-734 - Heritage Space/Heritage Images

Shepard hoisted from Mercury capsule, 1961. A U.S. Marine helicopter recovery team hoists astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr. from his Mercury spacecraft after a successful flight and splashdown in the Atlantic Ocean. On May 5th 1961, Shepard became the first American to fly into space. His Freedom 7 Mercury capsule flew a suborbital trajectory lasting 15 minutes 22 seconds. His spacecraft splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean where he and his capsule were recovered by helicopter and transported to the awaiting aircraft carrier U.S.S. Lake Champlain.