Universal Newsreel Volume 34, Release 38

Description

The original release sheet reads: As World Watched Spaceman hailed after U.S. triumph. THE UNITED STATES PUTS HER FIRST MAN INTO SPACE AS THE WORLD LOOKS ON - AND SUCCEEDS. IN THE FULL WHITE LIGHT OF GLOBAL PUBLICITY - IN SHARP CONTRAST TO RUSSIAN SECRECY - COMMANDER ALAN B. SHEPARD, JR., IS SENT ALOFT IN A MERCURY CAPSULE ATOP A REDSTONE MISSILE. THE 37-YEAR-OLD NAVY TEST PILOT IS THE CALMEST MAN AT CAPE CANAVERAL AS THE COUNT-DOWN BEGINS WITH HUNDREDS OF NEWSMEN LOOKING ON. AT 10:34 THE HUGE ROCKET IS AIRBORNE AND GOES GRACEFULLY ALOFT. IN THE 15-MINUTE FLIGHT, COMMANDER SHEPHARD [SHEPARD] TAKES OVER CONTROL OF THE PITCH AND ROLE [ROLL] OF THE CAPSULE, THUS BECOMING THE FIRST MAN TO PILOT A SPACE CRAFT. REMARKABLE PICTURES SHOW THE RECOVERY OF THE PILOT AND CAPSULE BY HELICOPTERS FROM THE CARRIER LAKE CHAMPLAIN. THE PILOT SHOWS NO PHYSICAL ILL EFFECTS AT ALL, AROUSING HOPES OF AN EARTH-CIRCLING FLIGHT BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR. MORE THAN COMMANDER SHEPARD FLEW IN THE CAPSULE. THE BRIGHT BANNER OF FREEDOM WAS CARRIED ALOFT. LATER, IN WASHINGTON, COMMANDER SHEPARD AND HIS FAMILY ARE RECEIVED BY THE PRESIDENT. MR. KENNEDY PRESENTS THE PIONEER WITH THE NASA DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL AND ALL OF THE CITY ROARS A WELCOME IN A PARADE DOWN PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE. AN HISTORIC MILESTONE IN MAN'S CONQUEST OF SPACE.

Collection

MCA/Universal Pictures Collection

Series

Motion Picture Releases of the Universal Newsreel Library