5 May 1961 May 5, 2014 Author: Staff Alan Shepard becomes the first American to travel into outer space. Famous Words of Inspiration..."Anybody can make history; only a great man can write it." Oscar Wilde — Click here for more from Oscar Wilde Related posts: 10 September 1961 10 September 1961 12 March 1961 Categories: History Tags: 1961, 5 May