Presented is a signed color photograph of American Astronaut Alan Shepard. Alan Shepard was one of the original astronauts selected for NASA's Mercury Program, and on May 5, 1961, the Naval Academy graduate was the first American astronaut, and the second person overall, to reach space. Daring adventures ran in his family: He was a descendant of Mayflower passenger Richard Warren. Shepard was the pilot of Freedom 7, and as the first American in outer space, he reached an altitude of 101.2 nautical miles in his suborbital trajectory. On his return from space, he was picked up by a Navy ship n the Atlantic Ocean. Shepard had a good sense of humor, and when a reporter asked him what he thought about in the space capsule while waiting for the rocket to blast off, he replied, "The fact that every part of this ship (rocket) was built by the lowest bidder." Shepard was celebrated in ticker tape parades in Washington, New York, and Los Angeles. Among his many honors were a NASA Distinguished Service Medal, and a Distinguished Flying Cross. Years later, Shepard commanded the Apollo 14 moon landing. 

The offering comes with a PSA LOA (CERT. NUMBER: AQ00600) for the signed photograph that measures approx. 8x10". Using bold script from a black marker, Shepard inscribed and signed the photo as, "Best wishes - Alan Shepard." The signed photograph reads, in part, "APOLLO 14/Shepard Roosa." On back, the photo has a NASA stamp, a stamped date of "January 31, 1985" and a suggested slug line, which reads, "KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Apollo 14 Commander Alan Shepard shown with the Apollo 14 emblem." The offering is in EXCELLENT condition.