In 1961, amidst the tensions of the Space Race, NASA made an unpopular choice: Concerned with booster issues during a January ...

A Milestone Anniversary of Discovery! On May 5, 2026, Americans will celebrate the 10th anniversary of National Astronaut Day ...

"Man, what a ride!”: The triumphant return to Earth of the first US man in space (three photos), Alan Shepard, Dean Conger [Mercury Redstone 3], 5 May 1961, 1961 ...

At 9:06 am CST on October 27, 1961, NASA took its first step toward landing on the moon when it successfully launched the Saturn I rocket, its first designed specifically for space exploration. The ...

The NASA History Program Office and the National Air and Space Museum’s Division of Space History are pleased to announce a symposium marking four significant anniversaries in the history of human ...

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s famous May 25, 1961 speech before Congress in which he proposed landing an American on the Moon ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Fifty years to the moment Alan Shepard rocketed away, more than 100 Project Mercury workers joined former astronauts and NASA leaders at the original Redstone launchpad Thursday ...

IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more. This is a reproduction of the ...

Alan Shepherd became the first American in space on May 5, 1961 - it was NASA’s first Mercury mission.

HOUSTON – As many people are busy sipping on margaritas and celebrating Cinco de Mayo, Americans have another reason to celebrate today. While May 5 marks the day Mexican army’s declared victory over ...