We also knew it would be difficult, because of the financial condition of the family, for me to go to college. Alan Shepard collegeconditiondifficult Change image and share on social
Obviously I was challenged by becoming a Naval aviator, by landing aboard aircraft carriers and so on. Alan Shepard aboardaircraftaviator Change image and share on social
I'd like to say I was smart enough to finish six grades in five years, but I think perhaps the teacher was just glad to get rid of me. Alan Shepard finishgladgrade Change image and share on social
The pilot looked at his cues of attitude and speed and orientation and so on and responded as he would from the same cues in an airplane, but there was no way it flew the same. The simulators had showed us that. Alan Shepard airplaneattitudecue share on social
You have to be there not for the fame and glory and recognition and being a page in a history book, but you have to be there because you believe your talent and ability can be applied effectively to operation of the spacecraft. Alan Shepard abilityapplybook share on social
Then there was the challenge to keep doing better and better, to fly the best test flight that anybody had ever flown. That led to my being recognized as one of the more experienced test pilots, and that led to the astronaut business. Alan Shepard astronautbusinesschallenge share on social
You know, being a test pilot isn't always the healthiest business in the world. Alan Shepard businesshealthypilot Change image and share on social
And I think that still is true of this business - which is basically research and development - that you probably spend more time in planning and training and designing for things to go wrong, and how you cope with them, than you do for things to go right. Alan Shepard basicallybusinesscope share on social