Alan Shepard launching into space (EAA/Youtube)
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Cold War
"The cold war a period of geographical tension between the Soviet Union with its satellite states, and the United States with its allies after World War II." This was a war of competition. Such as who could create the deadliest bomb and this competition extended into space and America competed with the Soviets to see who could get the most advancements in space, it became known as the Space Race.
Space shuttle (NASA)
American and Soviet flag mix (Now I Know website)
Astronaut on moon (NASA, Unsplash)
Yuri Gargain (Syfy Wire)
The Space Race
On April 12, 1961 the Soviet Union made the first clear triumph in space. Yuri Gagarin was the first person to ever go into space. He remained in space for an hour. Shortly after the United States on May 5, 1961 put their first person into space. Alan Shepard remained in space for only about 15 minutes. We see America triumph in the space race on July 20, 1969 when Neil Armstrong was the first person to walk on the moon. Without Alan Shepard and NASA breaking this barrier other space accomplishments and explorations would not have been possible.