Alan Shepard was an American astronaut and naval aviator, best known for being the first American in space. He flew aboard the Freedom 7 spacecraft on May 5, 1961, completing a suborbital flight that lasted about 15 minutes. This historic mission marked a significant milestone in the Mercury program and the broader Space Race between the United States and the Soviet Union. Later, Shepard commanded the Apollo 14 mission in 1971, where he became the fifth person to walk on the Moon. During this mission, he famously hit two golf balls on the lunar surface, showcasing both his adventurous spirit and the scientific goals of the mission.