Port Canaveral in Brevard County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Alan B. Shepard, Jr.

Photographed by Dave W, March 2, 2023

1. Alan B. Shepard, Jr. Marker

Inscription.
The first American to penetrate outer space began his flight from this launch complex in Freedom 7 of Mercury Redstone No. 3 at 9:34 AM May 5, 1961. From this beginning, man reached the moon.
John F. Kennedy Space Center
National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Erected by National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Exploration • Science & Medicine. A significant historical date for this entry is May 5, 1961.

Location. 28° 26.422′ N, 80° 34.419′ W. Marker is in Port Canaveral, Florida, in Brevard County. It is on Museum Circle south of Lighthouse Road when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Museum Cir, Cape Canaveral FL 32920, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Florida’s Space Coast.

It is also in the American South

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what

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was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Redstone (approx. ¼ mile away); Jupiter (approx. ¼ mile away); Juno II (approx. ¼ mile away); Explorer I (approx. ¼ mile away); Launch Complex 26 (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Launch Complex 26 (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Launch Complex 26 (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named Launch Complex 26 (approx. 0.3 miles away).

Photographed by Dave W, March 2, 2023

2. Alan B. Shepard, Jr. Marker

First American In Space image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dave W, March 2, 2023

3. First American In Space

Alan B. Shepard, U.S.N.
May 5, 1961
Launch Complex 5/6 In the light of today's technology it is difficult to imagine how little was known about the effects of the Space environment on human beings -- or to measure the extraordinary courage of the men who went there for us in the beginning.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 6, 2023, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. This page has been viewed 151 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 6, 2023, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.