http://www.facebook.com/orbiterfilmmaker Facebook. Advances, pictures, details, comments. On May 5, 1961, Alan Shepard piloted the Freedom 7 mission and became the second person, and the first American, to travel into space. He was launched by a Redstone rocket, and unlike Gagarin's one-hour orbital flight, Shepard stayed on a ballistic trajectory suborbital flight—a flight which carried him to an altitude of 187 km and to a landing point 487 km down the Atlantic Missile Range. Unlike Gagarin's automatic flight, Shepard was able to control his craft at all times. The flight, return from space and subsequent collection by helicopter were seen live on television by millions. On his successful return to Earth, Shepard was celebrated as a national hero, honored with parades in Washington, New York and Los Angeles and meeting President John F. Kennedy.