Astronaut Alan Shepard in Freedom 7 capsule as he becomes the first American in space on May 05, 1961 in In Space (Footage by Getty Images)

NASA Paresev 1-A on lake bed with project Mercury Astronaut Gus Grissom / testing the feasibility of using a steerable kite-like parawing as a replacement for parachutes used then to safely land spacecraft on Earth / The project was...

Astronaut Alan Shepard wearing spacesuit and preparing for Project Mercury III mission / technician testing spacesuit speaker system on July 28, 1961 in Cape Canaveral, Florida (Footage by Getty Images)

Project Mercury Atlas 6 mission / NASA mission control, countdown clock / Atlas 6 rocket lift-off carrying astronaut John Glenn, who became the first American to orbit the Earth. Project Mercury Atlas 6 lift off on February 20, 1962 in...

Mercury Redstone 3 rocket on launch pad with Freedom 7 capsule / astronaut Alan Shepard makes his way to the launch pad as he becomes the first American in space / NASA TV-1 trucks on May 05, 1961 in Cape Canaveral, Florida (Footage by...

Group of young spectators sitting in convertible car eagerly await launch / teary-eyed middleaged woman awaits launch, closing eyes and praying / lines of people and cars along beach front / man sitting on folding chair atop roof,...

Holiday Inn sign wishing John Glenn good luck / astronaut John Glenn eating breakfast before mission / John Glenn suiting up / women spectators waiting for launch, looking through binoculars / sign saying 'Good Luck Glenn from the All...

Project Mercury astronaut John Glenn enters the Mercury-Atlas 6 (MA-6) Friendship 7 spacecraft wearing the full pressure suit and helmet / McDonnell Aircraft Corporation technicians assist. Project Mercury Atlas 6 Mission pre-flight...

Mercury Redstone 3 launches Alan Shepard into space as the first American into space on May 05, 1961 in Cape Canaveral, Florida (Footage by Getty Images)

Mercury 7 astronauts relaxing, surfing and waterskiing on January 01, 1961 (Footage by Getty Images)

Project Mercury Freedom 7 capsule being moved on January 01, 1961 in Cape Canaveral, Florida (Footage by Getty Images)

Astronaut Alan Shepard suiting up for Project Mercury III mission on July 28, 1961 in Cape Canaveral, Florida (Footage by Getty Images)

Project Mercury Redstone 4 astronauts pre-flight preparations / Virgil 'Gus' Grissom is suited up in space suit on July 21, 1961 in Cape Canaveral, Florida (Footage by Getty Images)