Alan Shepard

Alan Bartlett Shepard, Jr. (November 18, 1923 – July 21, 1998) (Rear Admiral, USN, Ret.) was the first U.S. astronaut in space, though his first flight was only sub-orbital.

Later years

Alan Shepard was always a shrewd businessman, and was the only astronaut to become a millionaire while still in the program. After he left the program, he was on the boards of many corporations under the auspices of his Seven-Fourteen Enterprises (named for his two flights, Freedom 7 and Apollo 14).

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In 1988, he teamed up with fellow Mercury Seven astronaut Deke Slayton to write '. It was turned into a TV miniseries in 1994.

Related Topics:
1988 - Deke Slayton - TV - Miniseries - 1994

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Shepard died of leukemia near his home in Pebble Beach, California on July 21, 1998, at age 74, two years after being diagnosed with that disease. His wife of 53 years, the former Louise Brewer, died five weeks afterward. They had two daughters, Laura (born in 1947) and Juliana (born in 1951), and had also raised a niece, Alice.

Related Topics:
Leukemia - Pebble Beach, California - 1947 - 1951

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