Free Virtual Event- “Light this Candle!” Sixty Years of Americans in Space

When:
Wednesday, May 05, 2021 6:00p -
7:00p

Where:
Online event
1 Oxford St
Cambridge, MA 02138

EventScheduled OnlineEventAttendanceMode

Admission:
FREE

Categories:
History, Lectures & Conferences, University, Virtual & Streaming

Event website:
https://hmsc.harvard.edu/light-this-candle

On May 5, 1961, astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space, following cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin’s mission three weeks earlier. With the United States trailing the Soviet Union in spaceflight, President John F. Kennedy closely watched the launch of Freedom 7, eager for proof that America could match Soviet achievements. In his flawless performance, Shepard—whose position in the space program owed much to the work of Harvard-trained physicians—became the archetype of the American astronaut. In this talk, marking the 60th anniversary of the first American in space, Matthew Hersch will recount the events of Shepard’s flight and offer a discussion of astronaut selection, then and now.


Presented by the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments and the Harvard Museums of Science & Culture


Matthew H. Hersch, Associate Professor of the History of Science, Harvard University


Advanced registration required. Visit the event registration page to reserve a spot for this free virtual event.


Matthew M. Hersch photo portrait by Whitney Laemmli. Other image: NASA

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05/05/2021 18:00:00 05/05/2021 19:00:00 America/New_York Free Virtual Event- “Light this Candle!” Sixty Years of Americans in Space On May 5, 1961, astronaut Alan Shepard became the first American in space, following cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin’s mission three weeks earlier. With the United States trailing the Soviet Union in spacef...

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