35. [Mercury Redstone 3] THE LAUNCH OF THE FIRST AMERICAN IN SPACE: Alan Shepard Gazing Up at the Redstone Rocket on the Pad (diptych) Bill Taub, 5 May 1961 Printed 1961. Two vintage gelatin silver prints on fibre-based paper [NASA images 61-MR3-53 and 61-MR3-79]. With NASA captions numbered "61-MR3-53" and "61-MR3-79" on the reverses (issued by NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.). Each: 20.3 x 25.4 cm. (8 x 10 in.) Historical context On the morning of May 5, 1961, Shepard was transported in a special van from his isolated living quarters at Cape Canaveral to Launch Complex 5, where the Mercury-Redstone 3 awaited. These photographs dramatically capture the anticipation of Alan Shepard's historic first journey into space, marking the true beginning of America's space program. Bathed in the glow of floodlights and clouds of vapor from liquid oxygen being pumped into the rocket, the Redstone stood ready to welcome Shepard (first photograph). Upon arrival, Shepard stepped out of the van parked just 10 feet from the missile gantry and gazed up at the towering rocket before riding the gantry elevator to the third level (second photograph). "Though he was the first astronaut to go into space, Shepard was aided at every step by many knowing men, including his six colleagues. Astronaut John Glenn made sure the capsule was ready for him; Gordon Cooper briefed him on weather and the missile; Gus Grissom rode with him in the van and stayed with him until the hatch was closed; Scott Carpenter and Walter Schirra chased after the Redstone in F-106 jets to study its flight; and Donald Slayton sat in the Mercury Control Centre to communicate with Shepard over the radio so he would get instructions from a familiar voice." (LIFE Magazine, May 12, 1961, p. 20)