[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 101 (Friday, July 24, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1430-E1431]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN MEMORY OF ALAN SHEPARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TIM ROEMER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 24, 1998

  Mr. ROEMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my deep sorrow on the 
death of a true American pioneer and hero, Alan B. Shepard, Jr. As a 
member of the House Committee on Science and as a long-time fan of the 
Mercury program, I would like to acknowledge Alan Shepard's service and 
many contributions to the U.S. space program.
  Alan Shepard was known for his determination, his wit and his 
courage. He was one of seven Mercury astronauts named by NASA in

[[Page E1431]]

April 1959, and he holds the distinction of being the first American to 
travel in space. Alan has been characterized as the most eager to be 
chosen from among three Mercury astronauts who were selected to fly the 
famous first space flignt--the Freedom 7 mission.
  On that historic day, Alan Shepard--and the entire nation--waited 
anxiously for more than four hours as NASA worked feverishly to correct 
problems involving the launch vehicle's electrical system, the ground 
computer and the rocket's fuel pressure. This first flight in space, 
which lasted 15 minutes (five of those minutes in space) carried him to 
an altitude of 116 miles. Alan Shepard and the Freedom 7 mission marked 
the beginning of our journey into space.
  Alan Shepard prophetically referred to this first space mission as 
``just the first baby step, aimed for bigger and better things.'' The 
success of Freedom 7 and the bravery of Alan Shepard resulted in 
tremendous enthusiasm and excitement about the U.S. space program and 
future prospects of space travel. Less than three weeks after Alan 
Shepard's flight, President Kennedy set forth the goal of landing on 
the moon by the end of the decade. Alan Shepard returned to space and 
was the fifth astronaut to walk on the Moon during the Apollo 14 
Mission in February 1971.
  Mr. Speaker, I remember the first space flights of the NASA's Mercury 
program, and I think we will always remember the lasting impression 
Alan Shepard made on us and on the rest of the world. We are grateful 
for Alan Shepard's service to our nation, his invaluable contributions 
to NASA and we will remember him as a shining star in our early 
spaceflight missions. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

                          ____________________