1961: The first American in space

[May 5]( THIS DAY IN HISTORY 1961 [The first American in space]( From Cape Canaveral, Florida, Navy Commander Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. is launched into space aboard the Freedom 7 space capsule, becoming the first American astronaut to travel into space. The suborbital flight, which lasted 15 minutes and reached a height of 116 miles into the atmosphere, was a... [read more »]( American Revolution 1776 [Clinton excludes Howe and Harnett from amnesty offer »]( Automotive 1944 [Driving pioneer Bertha Benz dies »]( Civil War 1864 [Grant and Lee clash in the Wilderness forest »]( Cold War 1955 [Allies end occupation of West Germany »]( Crime 2004 [Human remains found in suitcase near Virginia Beach »]( Disaster 1995 [Hail storm surprises Dallas residents »]( General Interest 1821 [Napoleon dies in exile »]( 1862 [Battle of Puebla »]( 1945 [Six killed in Oregon by Japanese bomb »]( 1981 [IRA militant Bobby Sands dies »]( Hollywood 2002 [Spider-Man is first movie to top $100 million in opening weekend »]( Literary 1816 [The Examiner publishes John Keats' first poem »]( Music 1979 [Peaches and Herb top the pop charts with "Reunited" »]( Old West 1877 [Sitting Bull leads his people into Canada »]( Presidential 1985 [Reagan visits concentration camp and war cemetery »]( Sports 1904 [Cy Young throws perfect game »]( Vietnam War 1970 [U.S. forces capture Snoul, Cambodia »]( 1972 [North Vietnamese turn back South Vietnamese relief column »]( World War I 1919 [Italian delegates return to Paris peace conference »]( World War II 1941 [Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie returns to his capital »]( [HISTORY.com]( [SHOWS]( [VIDEOS]( [SCHEDULE]( [TOPICS]( [Subscribe]( | [Update Profile]( | [Contact Us](mailto:thc.newsletters@aetn.com) This is a promotional email from HISTORY and A+E Networks. You received this message because {EMAIL} is subscribed to This Day In History email updates. If you DO NOT wish to receive these emails please [UNSUBSCRIBE](. Having trouble viewing this message? [View the web version](. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not junk folders) and view images, [please add us to your address book or safe/white list](. © 2018 A&E Television Networks, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Email Marketing, 235 E 45th Street, New York, NY 10017 [Corporate Information]( | [TV Parental Guidelines]( | [Careers]( | [Terms of Use]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Copyright Policy]( | [Ad Sales]( | [Ad Choices](