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
But when I was selected, after my very first tour of squadron duty, to become one of the youngest candidates for the test pilot school, I began to realize, maybe you are a little bit better. Alan Shepard beginbitecandidate Change image and share on social
I think all of us certainly believed the statistics which said that probably 88% chance of mission success and maybe 96% chance of survival. And we were willing to take those odds. Alan Shepard believechancemission Change image and share on social
We worked with the engineers in the design and construction and testing phases in those various areas, then we would get back together at the end of the week and brief each other as to what had gone on. Alan Shepard areabackconstruction 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
Of course I was delighted the flight was over, but I still had to worry about cleaning up inside the cabin, I had to worry about the hatch, how to get in the sling, and so on. Alan Shepard cabincleandelight Change image and share on social
Of course, in our grade school, in those days, there were no organized sports at all. We just went out and ran around the school yard for recess. Alan Shepard daygradeorganize Change image and share on social
I must admit, maybe I am a piece of history after all. Alan Shepard admithistorypiece Change image and share on social
Whether you are an astronomer or a life scientist, geophysicist, or a pilot, you've got to be there because you believe you are good in your field, and you can contribute, not because you are going to get a lot of fame or whatever when you get back. Alan Shepard astronomerbackcontribute share on social
So everything turned out fine, and we were given the opportunity to go to Washington and be briefed on the project of man in space, and given the opportunity to choose whether we wanted to get involved or not. Alan Shepard briefchoosefine share on social
