NASA
Nasa: Last Minute Qualms
This site from NASA provides a detailed description of events leading up to the selection of Alan Shepard to be the first American to travel into space and the events immediately preceding the mission.
NASA
Nasa: Shepard's Ride
This site from NASA provides a detailed description of the flight of the first American to travel into space aboard the Freedom 7 Mercury spacecraft in 1961.
NASA
Nasa: Briefing the Briefers
This site from NASA provides detailed information about the successful flight of the Mercury 3, Freedom 7 spacecraft.
CNN
Cnn: Alan Shepard Was a "Pretty Cool Customer" July 22,1998
Biography and obituary of Alan B. Shepard. He was America's first space traveler. This site has links to related sites about Shepard and the early days of the space program.