On May 5, 1961, Alan Shepard became the first American in space. He was launched into a sub-orbital ballistic trajectory onboard a Mercury capsule, Freedom 7, the flight lasting approximately 15 minutes. This documentary provides an astronaut-point-of-view story of the project.

Useful images as follows: various shots of early American satellites; 1961 launch of Mercury astronaut Alan Shepard; various engineering tests; rocket firing, capsule splashdown; astronaut tests; capsule simulator, parabolic flight training, G-force simulator, attitude control simulator, gyroscope, sea rescue training; Redstone launch vehicle construction; parachute testing of capsule; various rocket launches; pre-flight medical testing of experimental chimpanzee; Redstone raised into place, systems testing; Mercury capsule raised to top of launcher; control centres and tracking stations rehearsal; fuelling, various shots countdown centre; medical checks; Shepard emerges from bus by launch-pad, takes lift top of launcher, is prepared for launch by technicians; gantry pulled back, 'cherry picker' escape vehicle is raised into position; press on stands; helicopter, observation jets, amphibious rescue vehicle; Shepard in capsule prior to launch; launch with mission control and observers; view of the Earth; view of Shepard throughout flight; recovery from sea by helicopter.