posted 05-05-2021 09:17 AM               

The highly successful flight of Alan Shepard on his MR-3/Freedom 7 spacecraft, launched atop a modified Redstone booster, was in space nearly 116 miles high on May 5, 1961. Though it was only a short 15-minute space hop from the Cape to an Atlantic splashdown 302 miles downrange, it paved the way for a whole new generation of pioneer explorers that eventually got American astronauts on the moon eight years later. Shepard became one of those few chosen "moon men" (the 5th of 12) that had been fortunate enough to walk on the moon's surface ten years after his first space feat.

But it wasn't commanding an Apollo lunar landing crew, riding a mighty Saturn V rocket, or even becoming the fifth moonwalker, as one would think it would be for the space pioneer's top highlight of his amazing 15-year senior astronaut career with NASA and as astronaut office chief for nearly six years.

No, in fact, he once told me that it wasn't him going to the moon, but winning the fierce astronaut-chosen competition in making that first U.S. manned spaceflight voyage. That feat meant more to the Mercury and Apollo astronaut than even walking on the moon.

Below is a display montage presentation of Admiral Shepard's first space ride. Of the few dozen hand-signed Shepard postal covers and cards depicted, most of vintage era (1961), along with a few major MR-3 anniversary events.

I've also included other items pertaining to the first manned Mercury spaceflight, however, not included are hundreds of other MR-3 and early Shepard-related memorabilia, including many signed photos and other items, that perhaps can be depicted in another separate montage.

Veteran aerospace journalist Martin Caidin, one of my favorite space reporters, broadcasted the liftoff of MR-3/Freedom 7 with Navy Commander Shepard aboard from Press Site 2 at the old Atlantic Missile Test Range of the Florida Space Coast.

Just one minute before launch, Caidin remarked, "...the tension was almost unbearable. All the eyes of the world seemed to focus on the towering, brilliant-white rocket, bearing the capsule with Alan Bartlett Shepard. A moment impossible to believe, yet it was happening, there, before our eyes, NOW!"

His live WNEW radio station broadcast on that starry dawn morning of May 5, 1961, went straight to New York of the epic shot. At 9:34 am EST, Caidin's words echoed from his station at the Cape, "...five, four, three, two, one, zero...ignition! There is flame beneath the burners... there goes the Redstone... lifting... climbing freely and perfectly... there she goes... GO BABY, GO GO GO!!!"

posted 05-05-2021 03:51 PM               

To continue: In particular, a very impressive selection of MR-3 Swanson covers signed by Shepard with various inscriptions, such as "MR-3 Pilot."

And any rare USS Lake Champlain PRS cover also signed by Shepard would be a highlight of any collection and yours is extra special.

posted 05-10-2021 11:52 AM               

At the moment, I may have less than a dozen or so different signed covers, cards, photos, letters, etc. pertaining to his Liberty Bell 7 suborbital space feat.

Perhaps we could see more MR-4/Grissom-signed material from other collectors and enthusiasts in the upcoming same topic forum two months from now.