Mercury-Redstone 3 facts for kids

Mercury-Redstone 3, also known as Freedom 7, was a super important space mission for the United States. On May 5, 1961, astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American to travel into space! This flight was a big step in Project Mercury, which aimed to send astronauts into orbit around Earth and bring them back safely.

America's First Human Spaceflight

The Freedom 7 mission was a huge moment in space history. It showed that the United States could send a person into space. This was a critical step in the exciting "Space Race" between the U.S. and the Soviet Union.

Meet the Astronaut: Alan Shepard

Alan Shepard was the brave pilot of the Freedom 7 spacecraft. He was one of the original seven astronauts chosen for Project Mercury. His flight made him a national hero.

The Powerful Redstone Rocket

The spacecraft was launched by a special rocket called the Redstone MRLV MR-7. This rocket was designed to carry the Mercury capsule and its astronaut into space. It was a powerful machine for its time.

A Quick Trip to Space

The flight of Freedom 7 was not a trip around Earth. It was a short, up-and-down journey called a suborbital flight. The mission lasted about 15 minutes. During this time, Alan Shepard reached an altitude of 116 miles (187 kilometers).

What Happened During the Flight?

After launch, the Redstone rocket pushed Freedom 7 high into the sky. Alan Shepard experienced weightlessness for about five minutes. He also looked out the window and saw Earth from space. This was an amazing view!

Returning Safely to Earth

After its short trip, the Freedom 7 capsule splashed down safely in the Atlantic Ocean. It landed about 300 miles (480 kilometers) from the launch site. The USS Lake Champlain, a Navy ship, quickly recovered Alan Shepard and his spacecraft.

Why Freedom 7 Was Important

This mission proved that humans could survive space travel. It also showed that U.S. rockets and spacecraft worked well. Freedom 7 paved the way for longer space missions and eventually, trips to the Moon. It was a huge success for the United States space program.

Images for kids

• 

  Launch of MR-3 on May 5, 1961

• 

  President Kennedy watching the flight on TV together with the First Lady, Vice President Johnson and others

• 

  Alan Shepard in Freedom 7 spacecraft before launch

• 

  Photo taken by 70 mm Earth-Sky Camera mounted on the spacecraft

• 

  HUS-1 helicopter from USS Lake Champlain recovering Alan Shepard from the Freedom 7 capsule

• 

  Alan Shepard on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Lake Champlain after recovery of Freedom 7

• 

  Freedom 7 formerly on display at the U.S. Naval Academy (now displayed at the Smithsonian's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia)

• 

  Commemorative patch

See also

In Spanish: Mercury Redstone 3 para niños