may 5, 1961 - First Redstone Rocket Launch
Description:
The Redstone rocket carried the first American, Alan Shepherd, into space on a Mercury capsule. The rocket did not have enough power to send him into an orbital trajectory, but rather made a sub-orbital launch. Alan Shepherd made an ocean splashdown 15 minutes 22 seconds later.Added to timeline:
Date:
may 5, 1961
Now
~ 65 years ago