Freedom 7 Mission

Heretofore unknown Mercury Freedom 7 photographs found

On May 5, 1961 Alan B. Shepard, Jr., piloted the Mercury spacecraft named Freedom 7 on a sub orbital flight in which he became first American in space. The flight lasted less than 16 minutes and attained an altitude of just over 116.8 miles.

This image is available as a high resolution, non watermarked, digital copy. Click here to order a copy for yourself.

Shepard was however the second person in space. Yuri Gagarin became the first human in outer space and the first to orbit the Earth on April 12, 1961.

Unlike the Soviet flight in which Gagarin had to parachute out of his vehicle prior to landing, Shepard actually returned inside the space craft. The space capsule carrying Shepard was recovered by the aircraft carrier USS Lake Champlain.

In this series of original photographs taken by a helicopter pilot and crew member of the USS Lake Champlain, we can get an unscripted view of the events of that day aboard the ship. We have tried to put them in a logical chronological order, but they were not numbered and we may have gotten the order wrong.

In any event, the following amateur images are a really great heretofore unknown series of historic photographs.

Freedom 7 MissionIn the first photograph in this article above, taken from a helicopter, we can see the Freedom 7 as it approaches the ship.

In the photograph to the right we get a closer view as the helicopter carrying the capsule prepare to set the space craft down on the ship. This image is available as a high resolution, non watermarked, digital copy. Click here to order a copy for yourself.

Freedom 7 MissionIn this image to the left we get a real nice view of the Freedom 7 as it is just about to be set down on the special platform prepared for the occasion. This image is available as a high resolution, non watermarked, digital copy. Click here to order a copy for yourself.

Freedom 7 MissionIn the photo to the right the landing crew is muscling the space capsule into place on the platform. This image is available as a high resolution, non watermarked, digital copy. Click here to order a copy for yourself.

Freedom 7 MissionTo the left we see the crew getting ready to open the door of the space capsule and let Shepard out. This image is available as a high resolution, non watermarked, digital copy. Click here to order a copy for yourself. Fredoom 7 Mission

In the photograph to the right, upon close inspection, Shepard can be seen as he exits the Freedom 7. This image is available as a high resolution, non watermarked, digital copy. Click here to order a copy for yourself.

Freedom 7 MissionAnd here, to the left is one more distance view of Shepard being escorted off of the top deck in order to be debriefed about the mission. This image is available as a high resolution, non watermarked, digital copy. Click here to order a copy for yourself. 007

To the right is a closer view of Shepard, still in his space suit, as he is escorted away to be debriefed. This image is available as a high resolution, non watermarked, digital copy. Click here to order a copy for yourself.

After the initial events of the placement of the Freedom 7 on the platform, and Shepard exiting the craft, we get a couple more photos of him walking around the carrier without his outer space suit.

Freedom 7 MissionHere, in the photograph to the left, Shepard is being escorted by two officers, while one of the officers takes some film footage of the history making man. This image is available as a high resolution, non watermarked, digital copy. Click here to order a copy for yourself.

Freedom 7 MissionAnd in this image to the right we see Shepard going over some papers which no doubt have something to do with the mission. This image is available as a high resolution, non watermarked, digital copy. Click here to order a copy for yourself.

Freedom 7 MissionFinally, in the image to the left, the crew of the USS Lake Champlain get to take a close up view of the Freedom 7. This image is available as a high resolution, non watermarked, digital copy. Click here to order a copy for yourself. Freedom 7 Mission

And here to the right is another view of the crew taking a good look at the space capsule. This image is available as a high resolution, non watermarked, digital copy. Click here to order a copy for yourself.

Freedom 7 MissionBack to work! Here to the left, a crew member is writing reports on the condition of the space craft. This image is available as a high resolution, non watermarked, digital copy. Click here to order a copy for yourself.

Freedom 7 MissionAnd last but not least, to the right we have a nice close up view of the Freedom 7's camera lens. This image is available as a high resolution, non watermarked, digital copy. Click here to order a copy for yourself.

This space flight was not only a first for The United States, but it was also a turning point for the American space program. We are pleased to have become the conservators of these rare and historic photographs, and we hope you enjoy viewing them as much as we enjoyed bringing them to you.