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Astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr. wore this suit during the first US manned mission in space. Developed by the BF Goodrich Company from the navy's MK-IV full-pressure suit, it was selected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in 1959 for use in Project Mercury.
Shepard's May 5, 1961, suborbital flight in the Mercury Freedom 7 capsule lasted a little over fifteen minutes. Although brief, it was a major step in a race with the Soviet Union for dominance in space. Encouraged by the overwhelming response to Shepard's slight, President John F. Kennedy announced his goal of sending a manned spacecraft to the Moon. |