Alan Shepard (1923-1998) Astronaut. Shepard became the second person, and the first American, to travel into space. This Mercury flight was designed to enter space, but not to achieve orbit. Ten years later, he commanded the Apollo 14 mission, piloting the lander to the most accurate landing of the Apollo missions. He became the fifth person to walk on the Moon, and the only astronaut of the Mercury Seven to walk on the Moon. 10†x 8†NASA lithograph of the Apollo 14 crew signed, “To Larry Best Wishes – Alan Shepard.â€