Biography
Council Admiral Alan Shepard, a participant in the NASA space program, became the first citizen of America, who committed a subborital flight. In his youth, piloting fighters and working by a military instructor, the pilot did not think that years later, the people would be admired and proud.Childhood and youth
Alan Bartlett Shepard - Jr. was born in November 1923 in the family of American lieutenant colonel and his only legitimate wife. The ancestors of the future astronaut, the indigenous British by nationality were passengers of the Maiflower ship, who mastered the new country.
Father, a native of the city of Derry, co-owner of a local bank, participated in the events of the first and second world wars. An intelligent and educated man who fought at the fronts of Europe, being far from the spouse, earned titles and ranks.
Thanks to Mother Alan Bartlett and his younger sister Polina entered the elementary school of Adams under the custody of experienced teachers. There, a boy who was interested in mathematics, physicist and astronomy, joined the boy-walled movement and found the first friends.
In the 30s of the 20th century, Shepard moved to the private academy, whose caregivers from the very foundation were members of his family. He became interested in aircraft production, became the creator of the thematic society and, having learned to make copies of the aircraft, devoted all his free days.
Memorial moments in the early biography were a visit to the airfield and travel on board the Douglas vessel from Derry to the neighboring town. From this point on, an American teenager began to dream of a pilot's career and infected with this desire of the members of the circle.
In an effort to get into the elite society of brave conquerors of the sky, Alan spinning among the pilots in the hope of getting an informal lesson. Soon, the mentors noticed and appreciated the abilities of the young man and came to a consensus that it would be a lot from classes.
Suddenly, for many, at the end of the Academy, the graduate wanted to serve on a fleet, but for participation in hostilities, because of the young age he did not come up. He entered the institution created by Admiral Farragut, which at that time was considered the best of preparatory schools.
Having learned how to manage ships and yachts, Shepard participated in competitions and as part of the student team won a number of prestigious prizes. The development of the theory of navigation allowed the young man to get a bachelor's degree in the early 1940s.
Personal life
During the war, which covered the planet, Alan tried to communicate more often with relatives, so he spent his holidays in the town where the sister studied. There he met a girl named Louise Bruer, who belonged to the old kind, which the country was once proud of.In the summer of 1944, despite the protests of the father and mother, the young intelligent and devout beauty became a legitimate wife for Shepard. Over time, the senior members of the names blessed relations, and the couple began to be considered a full-fledged American family.
After the settlement of the world conflict, Alan and Louise have children, but a military career of a young man overshadowed a personal life. The spouse, remaining alone, climbed and raised two girls, trying to inspire a sense of pride and truly American optimism.
In the mid-1950s, the third child appeared in the family, the Bruer's niece, which remained homeless after the death of her sister. Without making official papers, relatives brought up a sirotot and, judging by the memoirs and joint photos, were extremely kind to her.
Career and Flying on the Moon
Alan Alan Shepard's career began on board the Esminet Cogswell, which was part of the Pacific US Air Force Fleet. The young man showed courage in the first months of the army service and took part in the operations that the country was subsequently suitable.
During a business trip to Okinawa, the future astronaut was responsible for servicing anti-aircraft guns placed on the ship. Fast reaction and discipline allowed the Americans to distinguish between and become one of the hundreds of heroes participating in the biggest war.
Embed from getty imagesAfter the victory over Japan Shepard settled in Texas and began a flight course in 1946. Instructors, often criticized the abilities of the new student, taught the native Derry to the responsible relationship and work.
In order to succeed, Alan took lessons and eventually deserved approval and demonstrated the result. He received stripes of a sea pilot after improving the qualifications and joined the detachment of fighters, having a great certificate.
In the 50s, Shepard was engaged in testing military aircraft and conducted a number of valuable experiments for the American Air Force. While in the sky over the United States in order to collect information, he was engaged in the case, which since childhood he sincerely loved.
The experience gained was allowed Alan to become an instructor of the detachment of pilots, and then, at the end of the Newport College, get to the Atlantic fleet. Having worked for thousands of hours behind the helm of fighters and jet aircraft, the young officer proved the command that he was a professional pilot.
In the spring of 1959, Shepard came to the Astronaut detachment, which in the framework of the Mercury program prepared for landing on the moon. Donald Slaton, Scott Carpenter, John Glenn and other soldiers have trained for two years to glorify their native countries.
Alan, who was ahead of the Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, had the honor to be the first to rise on the board of Mercury-Redstone. During the flight of a small duration, a professional fighter pilot, unlike the Russian predecessor, manually managed the ship.
Embed from getty imagesAfter a successful expedition and maneuvers in weightlessness, Shepard served as a dubler of other applicants for flight. He was listed by the commander of the ship "Gemini" in the mid-1960s, but due to the detected Meniery disease, his place was taken by another pilot.
After surgery and multi-month treatment, the American returned to the space program and after Louis Armstrong and Basz, Oldrin made a landing on the surface of the moon. The events of 1971 were described in the autobiographical book, published with journalists, relatives and beloved wife.
Death
In July 1998, the world learned about the sudden death of astronaut, twice flew into space and planted on the moon. Death due to leukemia in the Hospital of California has read Americans in Mourning, souls suffering from the country.