Tucson Daily Citizen from Tucson, Arizona • Page 1

VOL. 89 NO. 107 TUCSON, ARIZONA, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 5, 1961 MAin 2-5855 10 CENTS-44 PAGES Tucsonians Jubilant Over Shot 'Boy, What Hope Orbit Comes Next "We're "A stupendous advance It paves the way for putting a man in orbit "My one regret is that it didn't happen a month ago These are sample comments from jubilant Tucson- ians who today joined other Americans in giving their astronaut, Alan B. Shepard the emotional push to the heavens that tightens the race for space. TAKING TIME out: everything, they stood breath-' less with anticipation as they watched on television, listened by the radio, and wished the nation's first space traveler success as he soared into the sky: When it was all over--and pronounced a success--they breathed a sigh of relief and gave voice to their jubilation.

The members of Tucson's community concerned, in one way or another, with "space," were sharing joy today with the man on the street. "I thought it was a very; good show. I'm very, very; pleased to see it," Dr. Gerard P. Kuiper, the director of the University of Arizona's Solar' and Planetary Laboratory said.

The Russians called this famous astronomer for reaction to their man in space shot. "It was very courageous' of the government to have I so much self-confidence that i they invited an international crowd to be present a watch the performance. My one regret is that it didn't happen a month ago." RUSSELL NIDEY, systems manager of the space division at the Kitt Peak National' Observatory and a space re- searcher for 10 years, said: "It is a major accomplishment to have successfully flown a man on a rocket. "It is anti-climactic as compared with the Soviet flight but certainly that flight is still clouded with a lot of contradictions and uncertainties. We don't know how much is propaganda and how much is fact.

--AP Wirephotos FIRST U. S. SPACEMAN CONGRATULATED Shepard CAPE CANAVERAL, Alan B. Shepard Jr. rode a rocket into space today, exclaimed.

"What a beautiful sight" as he looked down on the earth, and then dropped to a safe landing in the Atlantic Ocean. For the wiry, 37-year-old Navy commander, the historic adventure obviously was no more frightening than many earlier flights he had made in hot experimental aircraft. "It's a beautiful day," he told Marines on the helk copter that plucked his space capsule out of the water; after a soaring flight 115 miles above the earth and miles southeast from the Cape Canaveral launching pad. Then his nonchalance gave way to excitement as he' declared: "Boy, -what a ride!" Alan B. Shepard the nation's first spaceman--still wearing his space suit--receives congratulations of crew members of the Carrier Lake Champlain after historic flight from Cape Canaveral today.

Shepard was picked up by helicopter after space capsule landed in the sea and brought to the carrier. WIRED FOR SOUND Sensors are taped to the body of Astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr. in the pre-dawn hours today before he was i into his space suit for his historic manned space flight from Cape Canaveral. Alan's Wife Calls Space Flight Feat Davs Ahead I Only 19 minutes after the Redstone rocket booster i blasted off at 10:34 a.m.

(EST), Shepard climbed out the escape hatch of the space craft and was picked up, to be transferred to the deck of the Aircraft Carrier Lake Champlain. "I don't think there's much you'll have to do to me. America's first space man remarked to one of the physi- The Space Box Score A Perfect Flight, Shepard Tells JFK WASHINGTON--UPI--Alan B. Shepard personally reported to President Kennedy by radio telephone today that "everything worked just about perfectly" on his flight into space. fcr- "It was a very rewarding experience for me and the people who made it pos-' sible," Shepard told the Pres ident.

Kennedy spoke from his White House office to Shepard in the admiral's quarters aboard the. Navy aircraft carrier Lake Champlain. "There is no immediate connection between Project Mercury and our orbiting telescope. But any success in the space field is going to reflect favorably on any other." Dr. Thomas L.

Martin, UA Engineering College dean, said "It is a marvelous engineering accomplishment. In Continued Page 8 The conversation came shortly after Shepard was plucked out of the Atlantic and flown aboard the Champlain by helicopter. Here is the conversation. text of their KENNEDY mander. SHEPARD Hello corn- Yes sir, KENNEDY--I want to congratulate you very much.

SHEPARD Thank you very much, Mr. President. INSIDE THE CITIZEN 300 Ready For Marbles Tourney PAGE 3 U. S. Troops May Go To Viet Nam PAGE It Diva Prefers Furs To Husbands PAGE 23 Longdcn Up For Another Derby Bridge 8 Comics 33 Crossword Puzzle 23 Dr.

Alvarez 18 Editorials 14 Financial 21 PAGE 15 Molly MayfieW 10 Movies 29-31 Public Records 38 Radio-TV 32 Sports 55.37 Woman's View 23-26 KENNEDY We watched i you on TV of course and we are awfully pleased a proud of what you did. SHEPARD Well, thank you, sir. As you know by now everything worked just about I perfectly and it "was a rewarding experience for me and the people who made i possible. KENNEDY--We are looking forward to seeing you up here, commander. SHEPARD Thank you very much.

I am looking forward to it, I assure you. KENNEDY --The members of the National Security Council are meeting on another matter this morning and they all want me to give you their congratulations. SHEPARD Thank you very much, sir, and I'm looking forward to meeting you in the near future. KENNEDY Thank you, commander and good luck. The White House announced that Shepard probably will be brought here Monday to confer with Kennedy and to receive his congratulations in person.

There was a move afoot in Congress to award Shepard a special Medal of Honor i --the nation's most coveted' decoration. By Associated Press Mrs. A a Shepard, who might have been a widow i morning, emerged from the privacy of her Virginia Beach curtained house i a and happy. A she had not spoken with her astronaut husband, she had been told by Col. John Powers at Cape, Canaveral that everything' I went all right with his rocket; trip into space and back.

i "It was just wonderful, wonderful, wonderful," she told the of cameramen, reporters and curious neighbors gathered around her porch. In Derry, N. the parents of America's first astronaut "just couldn't describe" their feelings today as they watched i their only son--through television become America's first spaceman. Afterwards, they told newsmen they were most grateful to all those who made the shot successful. Their daughter, wife of Gordon Shenrun of North Attleboro, said, "We are grateful to God for the safe return of Alan." Shepard's pretty, 13-year- old daughter watched the space shot on television in St.

Louis today and remained "a very calm, very poised little girl." So said Dr. David Andrews, president of the Principia 1 Mrs. Alan Shepard School where Laura Shepard boards and attends classes. Laura a A watched the momentous shot together. "One of her friends came in the dormitory and asked.

'How do you She smiled brightly and said, Must Why aren't space flights Launched from here? Tucson's weather Is usually clear, A. Stronaut If weather predictions are correct, and the odds are all in our favor, the weekend will be fine for launching almost anything space flights or backyard Skies will continue mostly clear and it will be warmer tomorrow. No rain is in sight and today's dusty winds are supposed to diminish. The experts say tomorrow will have only pleasant afternoon breezes. Tomorrow's high is expected to be about 85.

Yesterday's official high at the Municipal Airport was 81 and it was only one degree warmer at the University of Arizona weather station. Tonight's low is supposed to be 49, the same as last night's coolest. At 2 p.m. today it was 74 in the shade with 12 per cent humidity. Full Weather Report.

Paie 27 More On Shot More pictures and stories on Alan Shepard's historic ride into space may be found on Pages 4, 8, 9 and 28. cians waiting anxiously to de- termine if Shepard suffered i a or psychological harm in his flight out of the atmosphere. After the checkup Shepard was reported in "excellent physical condition" and in "fine spirits" less than an hour after he returned to earth from his space flight. The report was made by doctors who examined him on this ship. Army Capt.

Jerry Strong, one of the doctors, reported: "There is nothing determine that is in any abnormal after the flight." Shepard had radioed from the weightless void of space that he could see, his periscope, the i East Coast of the United States. President telephoned his congratulations to Shepard on the carrier and said he was looking forward to the space man's arrival in Washington, when he will re'. ceive a hero's welcome. SHEPARD'S A I i flight was I only the beginning of Ameri- By United States International Satellites and probes to date: U. S.

40, Russia 15. Still in earth 21. Russia 1. In sun orbit: Russia 2. U.

S. 2, Still transmitting: U.S. 9, Russia none. Hit the moon: U. S.

none, Russia 1. LAUNCH! Redstone missile lifts first American into space. Chess Is News In Russia LONDON UPI As the news of Cmdr. Alan Shcp- ard's successful flight into space flashed aroxmd the world today, Moscow Radio transmitted the latest moves in the return match of the BULLETIN Members Of Congress Hail Giant Stride In Space Race In a statement issued immediately after the flight, Kennedy sard Americans world chess championship be- rejoice in the mission carried tween Mikhail Tahl and Mik- by UK heroic astronain. hail Botvinnik.

WASHINGTON -Further economic sanctions against Cuba are possible, President Kennedy said today. He told his news conference that this country must "consider the implications" of further economic action putting pressure on the Castro government. This consideration is being Riven, he said. But in answer to a question whether the United States plans to train a force of exiles, for an invasion attempt like the one which failed last month, Kennedy was emphatic in stating no swch plans exist. WASHINGTON UPI -J i a members of Congress today cheered the heroic achievement of astronaut Alan B.

Shepard. They hailed his space flight as a giant American stride in the space race with Russia. Rut some cautioned that there are still challenges ahead. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, who is president of dent Kennedy's Space Advisory Committee said Shepard' "will never he forgotten." Speaker Sam Rayburn said: "It was a great feat.

1 am very proud. It was very gratifying to me as I feel sure it was to all the American people that we have demonstrated that we can send a man into space." Senate Democratic Leader Mike Mansfidd, Mont. I'm the a a and our country a the flight was so successful. It is indeed great news. Senate Republican Leader Everett M.

Dirksen. wonderful! This reaffirms the faith of the country in our capacity to do these things and to move ahead in the space field. Men launched into orbit: U. S. none, Russia 1.

Spacecraft retrieved from orbit: V. S. 4. Russia 4. Space flight controlled by pilot: U.

S. 1, Russia none. can exploration of space, said Hugh Dryden, deputy administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Soon, Dryden said, an astron a will nrbil the earth and later travel to moon and back. Crewmen of the Lake Champlain were told not to speak to the astronaut.

Doc- Continued Page 2 TV To Show Space Shot Tonight All three Tucson television stations will present special programs tonight on the historic manned space flight. A throe programs are pectfd to include film segments showing the shOv dnd its preparations a i a a as well as commentary from network newsmen. the Senate and head of Presi- delighted on behalf of both The schedule: 6 p.m., KVOA-TV (NBC) Channel 4, a 30-minute special. p.tn KGUN-TV (ARC) Channel 3. a rft-minute "Project Mer- Sen.

Hpnrv M. Jackson, rur summary. p.rr^ the Senate's KOLH-TV (CBS) Channel i3, a 30-minute "Our Man In Continued I 1.