Saturday, 5 May is National Astronaut Day
On 5 May, 1961, Alan Bartlett Shepard Junior became the first American in space aboard the Freedom 7 Space capsule.
National Astronaut Day is observed annually on 5 May to celebrate astronauts as true heroes.
This day has been selected because on 5 May, 1961, Alan Bartlett Shepard Junior became the first American in space aboard the Freedom 7 Space capsule. The 15-minute suborbital flight reached a height of about 187 kilometres into the atmosphere and was a milestone achievement.
National Astronaut Day is intended to inspire all of us to follow our dreams.
How to observe
Share any astronaut stories you may have on social media using #WeBelieveInAstronauts or #NationalAstronautDay. For more information, visit www.NationalAstronautDay.com.
History
National Astronaut Day was submitted by the Uniphi Space Agency and declared by the registrar at National Day Calendar to be observed on 5 May every year.
