Alan Shepard
/ˌælən ˈʃepəd/
/ˌælən ˈʃepərd/
- (1923-98) the first American in space. He made a short sub- orbital flight (= one that does not go completely round the earth in space) in 1961 as part of the Mercury programme. He became the fifth man on the moon when he commanded Apollo 14 in 1971.