Astronomy Picture of the Day ·

Mercury-Redstone 3 Launch

The Astronomy Picture of the Day for May 7, 2021 is “Mercury-Redstone 3 Launch,” an image. It is credited to Image Credit: NASA. The original explanation runs about 174 words.

Mercury-Redstone 3 Launch
Credit: Image Credit: NASA Shown from science.nasa.gov. Not hosted by OpenOrbit.

From the explanation

“Sixty years ago, near the dawn of the space age , NASA controllers “lit the candle” and sent Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard arcing into space atop a Redstone rocket. His cramped space capsule was dubbed Freedom 7.”

— APOD editors, May 7, 2021

Read the full explanation on science.nasa.gov

At a glance

Date
May 7, 2021
Type
Image
Credit
Credit: Image Credit: NASA
Copyright
No copyright notice on the entry. Check the credited institution’s own usage rules before reusing it.
Explanation length
About 174 words

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Source

Copy taken Oct 28, 2026, 2:39 AM EDT. The image and explanation belong to their creators. OpenOrbit is not affiliated with or endorsed by NASA.