Three weeks later, on May 5, 1961, Alan Shepard became the first American in space, launched in a ballistic trajectory on Mercury-Redstone 3, in a spacecraft he named Freedom 7. Though he did not achieve orbit like Gagarin, he was the first person to exercise manual control over his spacecraft's attitude and retro-rocket firing. After his successful return, Shepard was celebrated as a national hero, honored with parades in Washington, New York and Los Angeles, and received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal from President John F. Kennedy.
Three weeks later , on May 5 , 1961 , Alan Shepard became the first American in space , launched in a ballistic trajectory on Mercury - Redstone 3 , in a spacecraft he named Freedom 7 . Though he did not achieve orbit like Gagarin , he was the first person to exercise manual control over his spacecraft 's attitude and retro - rocket firing . After his successful return , Shepard was celebrated as a national hero , honored with parades in Washington , New York and Los Angeles , and received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal from President John F. Kennedy .
The first person to have control over driving their spacecraft was whom?
The first person to have control over driving their spacecraft was whom ?
Alan Shepard
Alan Shepard