Alan Shepard – one of NASA's first seven astronauts – became the first American in space. President John F. Kennedy, right, awards NASA's Distinguished Service Medal to astronaut Shepard in a Rose Garden ceremony on May 8, 1961, at the White House. In the background are the other members of the Mercury Seven, NASA's original astronauts.

---

Size: 6811px × 4188px
Photo credit: © NASA Archive / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: ., alan, american, astronaut, astronauts, award, exploration, historic, historical, history, honor, honour, john, kennedy, nasa, people, person, president, shepard, space