1) Alan Shepard was the first American to travel into space.

2) Alan Shepard was selected to be one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts.

3) Alan Shepard's famous words upon liftoff were, "Godspeed, John Glenn."

4) Alan Shepard later became the fifth person to walk on the moon during the Apollo 14 mission.

5) Alan Shepard was known for his calm demeanor under pressure.

6) Alan Shepard's space suit is on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.

7) Alan Shepard received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his contributions to space exploration.

8) Alan Shepard's contributions to the space program paved the way for future astronauts.

9) Alan Shepard's historic spaceflight lasted only 15 minutes.

10) Alan Shepard inspired generations of people to reach for the stars.