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 rocket had worked perfectly, and all I had to do was survive the reentry forces. You do it all, in a flight like that, in a rather short period of time, just 16 minutes as a matter of fact. Alan Shepard factflightforce Change image and 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
You know, being a test pilot isn't always the healthiest business in the world. Alan Shepard businesshealthypilot Change image and share on social
Later, in the early teens, I used to ride my bike every Saturday morning to the nearest airport, ten miles away, push airplanes in and out of the hangars, and clean up the hangars. Alan Shepard airplaneairportbike Change image and share on social
The first plane ride was in a homemade glider my buddy and I built. Unfortunately we didn't get more than four feet off the ground, because it crashed. Alan Shepard buddybuildcrash Change image and share on social
You've done it in the simulator so many times, you don't have a real sense of being excited when the flight is going on. You're excited before, but as soon as the liftoff occurs, you are busy doing what you have to do. Alan Shepard busyexciteflight share on social
I woke up an hour before I was supposed to, and started going over the mental checklist: where do I go from here, what do I do? I don't remember eating anything at all, just going through the physical, getting into the suit. We practiced that so much, it was all rote. Alan Shepard checklisteathour share on social
