Retired Astronaut and former test pilot Alan Shepard and former NASA flight director Chris Kraft on this edition of Fresh Air. Alan Shepard was America's first man in space in 1961; the voyage covered 302 miles and lasted 15 minutes. Ten years later with Apollo 14, he made it to the moon, playing golf on the moon's surface. Early in his space career, Shepard was diagnosed with an inner ear syndrome which could have ended his career. Shepard grounded himself in 1963 and became Chief of the Astronaut Office. Later, after a risky operation took care of his ear problem, Shepard returned to flight status, becoming commader of the Apollo 14. Shepard is the author of Moon Shot: The Inside Story of America's Race to the Moon. Chris Kraft was NASA's first flight director, from the first forays into space in the 1960s to after Neil Armstrong landed on the moon in 1969. Kraft also created Mission Control. He's the author of, Flight: My Life In Mission Control. (Broadcast Date: July 4, 2003)
(Tags : Fresh Air, Alan Shepard and Chris Kraft Terry Gross Audiobook, Terry Gross Audio CD )
