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highschool
highschool

What do you know about the "freedom 7" space trip in 1961?

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Posted by highschool on Tuesday October 28, 2008 at 7:59 AM and tagged with 1961, history, space exploration.

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  1. ms-mcgregor Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The "Freedom 7" was the original Mercury capsule that carried the first American into space. It was named after the original seven Mercury astronauts selected to be the first Americans in space. Alan Sheperd became the first American in space when his "Friendship 7" capsule was launched into a 20 minutes flight on May 5, 1961. This marked the beginning of the American challenge to the Russian space program which had already launched a man into space. By the end of the Mercury program, Americans had "rocketed" ahead of the Russians by putting seven men in space and many had orbited the earth many times. Eventually, Apollo program followed which eventually put a man on the moon.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/earth-science/shepard-alan-b
    http://www.enotes.com/right-stuff-salem/right-stuff-98300...

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    Posted by ms-mcgregor on Tuesday October 28, 2008 at 8:11 AM