After the success of the Mercury-Redstone 2 mission in January 1961, a mere 2 months after the failed "4 inch mission," NASA morale was improved. Still, a new string of problems emerged. Von Braun insisted on one more test before the Redstone could be deemed man-rated. His overly cautious nature brought about clashes with other people involved in the program, who argued that MR-2's technical issues were simple and had been resolved shortly after the flight. He overruled them, so a test mission involving a Redstone on a boilerplate capsule was flown successfully in March. Von Braun's stubbornness was blamed for the inability of the U.S. to launch a crewed space mission before the Soviet Union, which ended up putting the first man in space the following month. Three weeks later on 5 May, von Braun's team successfully launched Alan Shepard into space. He named his Mercury-Redstone 3 Freedom 7.
after the success of the mercury-redstone 2 mission in january 1961 a mere 2 months after the failed "4 inch mission" nasa morale was improved still a new string of problems emerged von braun insisted on one more test before the redstone could be deemed man-rated his overly cautious nature brought about clashes with other people involved in the program who argued that mr-2's technical issues were simple and had been resolved shortly after the flight he overruled them so a test mission involving a redstone on a boilerplate capsule was flown successfully in march von braun's stubbornness was blamed for the inability of the us to launch a crewed space mission before the soviet union which ended up putting the first man in space the following month three weeks later on 5 may von braun's team successfully launched alan shepard into space he named his mercury-redstone 3 freedom 7