Today is the first #NationalAstronautDay and to celebrate, we're sharing this pic of Astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr. in his silver pressure suit, preparing for his Mercury Redstone 3 launch. Coincidentally, this occurred on #OnThisDay, #CincoDeMayo, in 1961. Shepard's Freedom 7 Mercury capsule lifted off from Launch Complex 5 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and flew a suborbital trajectory lasting about 15 minutes. He became the first American to fly into space. During acceleration, Shepard was subjected to 6.3 g, or 6.3 times his normal weight. Soon after, America's first space traveler got his first view of the Earth. "What a beautiful view," Shepard said. Credit: NASA #NASA #history #tbt #blackandwhite #spacesuit #astronaut