Explorers / Astronauts

19 Alan Shepard Astronaut Quotes (MOON SHOT)

In the annals of space exploration and human achievement, few names shine as brightly as Alan Shepard. Known for his historic role as the first American to travel into space and his landmark Apollo 14 lunar mission, Shepard is a figure whose legacy continues to inspire new generations.

These quotes are not simply reflections of a man’s journey to space; they are pearls of wisdom from a pioneer who dared to reach beyond our planet, forever altering our perspective of the cosmos. They provide insights into bravery, determination, and the principles that steered Shepard’s remarkable career.

Whether you’re a space aficionado, an aspiring astronaut, or simply someone fascinated by the grandeur of the universe, these quotes will challenge your thinking, deepen your understanding, and inspire you to dream bigger.

Top 19 Most Famous Alan Shepard Quotes to Inspire You (AMERICAN ASTRONAUT)

“I realized up there that our planet is not infinite. It’s fragile. That may not be obvious to a lot of folks, and it’s tough that people are fighting each other here on Earth instead of trying to get together and live on this planet. We look pretty vulnerable in the darkness of space.”

Alan Shepard
I must admit, maybe I am a piece of history after all.Pin
I must admit, maybe I am a piece of history after all.
It's been a long way, but we're here.Pin
It’s been a long way, but we’re here.
When I first looked back at the Earth, standing on the Moon I cried.Pin
When I first looked back at the Earth, standing on the Moon I cried.

“There’s no question that all the generations got excited about the first flights, with Kennedy’s inspiration to go to the moon, leaving the planet for the first time, and fortunately coming back.”

Alan Shepard
If you don't use your experience, your past is wasted, and you are betraying yourself.Pin
If you don’t use your experience, your past is wasted, and you are betraying yourself.
You may not have any extra talent, but maybe you are just paying more attention to what you are doing.Pin
You may not have any extra talent, but maybe you are just paying more attention to what you are doing.
I just wanted to be the first one to fly for America, not because I'd end up in the pages of history books.Pin
I just wanted to be the first one to fly for America, not because I’d end up in the pages of history books.

“Whether you are an astronomer or a life scientist, geophysicist, or a pilot, you’ve got to be there because you believe you are good in your field, and you can contribute, not because you are going to get a lot of fame or whatever when you get back.”

Alan Shepard
It is a very sobering feeling to be up in space and realize that one's safety factor was determined by the lowest bidder on a government contract.Pin
It is a very sobering feeling to be up in space and realize that one’s safety factor was determined by the lowest bidder on a government contract.
You know, being a test pilot isn't always the healthiest business in the world.Pin
You know, being a test pilot isn’t always the healthiest business in the world.
I'd like to say I was smart enough to finish six grades in five years, but I think perhaps the teacher was just glad to get rid of me.Pin
I’d like to say I was smart enough to finish six grades in five years, but I think perhaps the teacher was just glad to get rid of me.

“And I think that still is true of this business – which is basically research and development – that you probably spend more time in planning and training and designing for things to go wrong, and how you cope with them, than you do for things to go right.”

Alan Shepard
We're going to see passengers in space stations in 15 years, who will be able to buy a ticket and spend a weekend in space.Pin
We’re going to see passengers in space stations in 15 years, who will be able to buy a ticket and spend a weekend in space.
I know you're all saying I can go to the moon but I can't find Pasadena.Pin
I know you’re all saying I can go to the moon but I can’t find Pasadena.

“I woke up an hour before I was supposed to, and started going over the mental checklist: where do I go from here, what do I do? I don’t remember eating anything at all, just going through the physical, getting into the suit. We practiced that so much, it was all rote.”

Alan Shepard
Obviously I was challenged by becoming a Naval aviator, by landing aboard aircraft carriers and so on.Pin
Obviously I was challenged by becoming a Naval aviator, by landing aboard aircraft carriers and so on.
I can hit it farther on the moon. But actually, my swing is better here on Earth.Pin
I can hit it farther on the moon. But actually, my swing is better here on Earth.

“We wanted to be in great shape, we wanted to be able to cope with zero gravity, we wanted to be able to cope with accelerations and decelerations and so on. So all of us trained so that we were probably in the best physical condition we had ever been in up until that point.”

Alan Shepard
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Alan Shepard Short Biography

Born on November 18, 1923, in Derry, New Hampshire, United States, Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. was one of NASA’s first seven astronauts, and on May 5, 1961, became the first American to travel into space.

During his career as a test pilot, he had earned a coveted seat in NASA’s program for space exploration. He and six other compatriots became known as the Mercury 7.

In 1961 he was handpicked to pilot the first American human space flight. He named his capsule Freedom 7, which spent 15 and a half minutes in orbit and had traveled more than 300 miles. Alan Shepard was then celebrated as a national hero.

Due to an ear problem, he was grounded for nearly ten years, during this time Alan Shepard became responsible for training NASA’s astronauts, where he developed training programs for all astronauts and trained individual astronauts for their particular roles and missions.

Alan Shepard’s second mission was the Apollo 14, wherein he was the commander. This second mission had taken him to the moon. He and his crew landed on the moon on February 15, 1971, where he became the 5th person to walk on the moon’s surface and the first-ever person to play golf on the moon.

After his retirement in 1974, he founded his company Seven Fourteen Enterprises. He became chairman of Marathon Construction Corporation and chaired the Mercury 7 Foundation (which was later renamed the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation), raising money and offering scholarships to science and engineering students.

Further reading:

Here are the best Alan Shepard quotes so you can find the inspiration to push yourself to do great things. 

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Also read:

Alan Shepard Astronaut Quotes (MOON SHOT) - Gracious QuotesPin
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