alan shepard space missions

[Mercury Redstone 3: Photos from Alan Shepard's Freedom 7 Spaceflight], Although the Soviets had reached the historic milestone first, and Gagarin had achieved a longer orbital flight, Shepard's suborbital flight still made a significant worldwide impact. the Hubble Telescope and robotic interplanetary and distant space missions. During this mission, Shepard became the fifth person to walk on the moon, and the first to play golf on its surface. As of 2022, daughter Laura Churchley leads the foundation's Board of Trustees. [20][28], In November 1945, Shepard arrived at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi in Texas, where he commenced basic flight training on January 7, 1946. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Shepard saw action with the surface navy during World War II. The ceremony took place on March 3, 1945, in St. Stephen's Lutheran Church in Wilmington, Delaware. NASA officials also saw suborbital flights as valuable spaceflight experience; at one point they thought all seven astronauts picked in April 1959 would fly such missions. Bart joined the National Guard in 1915 and served in France with the American Expeditionary Force during World War I. Shepard was the consummate astronaut, he stayed with . Alan Shepard was a part of two human spaceflight missions, Mercury-Redstone 3 (Freedom 7) and Apollo 14. Alan Shepard became the first American in space in this Mercury capsule. He also chaired the Mercury 7 Foundation, which offered college scholarships to those interested in science and engineering. Alan Shepard launched on two missions, both to the moon and making history for people of all ages for generations to come. If Shepards mission had failed, the president likely could not have made that announcement. Shepard died in California in 1998, after a long battle with leukemia. 1972: . As the world watched on television, Shepard blasted off from Cape Canaveral, FL, on May 5, 1961. Grissom and John Young flew Gemini 3 instead. Because of the placement of the porthole windows, the first American in space was unable to catch a glimpse of the stars, and he was strapped in too tight to experience weightlessness. And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com. He once rented a small plane to fly them and their friends from Texas to a summer camp in Maine. In later life, he was the mayor of Fresno, California. [89] He also was on the selection panel for the NASA Astronaut Group 5 in 1966. Over his two space flights, Shepard logged a total of 216 hours and 57 minutes in space. The recipient demonstrates exemplary use of technology either to foster lifelong learners or to make the learning process easier. He will always be the first American, and second human, to fly in space, and the fifth to walk on the Moon. Because World War II was already raging in Europe, his father wanted him to join the Army. Among his responses, President Dwight D. Eisenhower launched the Space Race. He tried to keep it secret, fearing that he would lose his flight status, but was aware that if an episode occurred in the air or in space it could be fatal. [Photos: Freedom 7, America's 1st Human Spaceflight]. Rare, Unseen Photos of Alan Shepard, First American in Space. 1970: NASA's Apollo 13 safely returns to Earth after suffering a damage while on its Moon mission. [127] He also received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement in 1981;[128] the Langley Gold Medal on May 5, 1964; the John J. Montgomery Award in 1963; the Lambert trophy; the SETP Iven C. Kincheloe Award;[129] the Cabot Award; the Collier Trophy;[130] and the City of New York City Gold Medal for 1971. NASA selected Shepard to be part of the first crewed Gemini mission, which was called Gemini 3. On May 5, 1961, Alan B. Shepard became the first American in space during a suborbital flight aboard his Mercury capsule named Freedom 7. However, the actual choice was not made public until shortly before the launch for fear of having to go to the backup at the last moment. Since this was more than expected, NASA decided not to bother with the remaining 41 candidates, as 32 candidates seemed a more than adequate number from which to select 12 astronauts as planned. As a test pilot, Shepard flew a number of experimental planes, including the F3H Demon and F5D Skylancer. Postal Service issued a first-class stamp in Shepard's honor, the first U.S. stamp to depict a specific astronaut. Meet New Shepard. In a mission that lasted just over 15 minutes, Alan Shepard managed and monitored 27 events and communicated with Mercury Control 78 times. Mercury was run by the Space Task Group, an organization led by Robert Gilruth and situated at the Langley Research Center in tidewater Virginia. The ship also participated in the Allied naval bombardments of Japan, and was present in Tokyo Bay for the Surrender of Japan in September 1945. The Mercury-Atlas booster placed the Friendship . Shepard was subsequently named commander for theApollo 14mission to the moon. Heres why you can trust us. He had been married to his wife . These Apollo mission quotes celebrate the 12 that's currently how many people have walked on the Moon or any other world in all of human history. [113][114] He retired from both NASA and the Navy on July 31, 1974. Following an episode during a lecture in Houston, where he had recently moved from Virginia Beach, Virginia, Shepard was forced to confess his ailment to Slayton, who was now Director of Flight Operations, and seek help from NASA's doctors. In May 1961, 23 days after Yury A. Gagarin became the first human to orbit Earth, Shepard made a 15-minute. He was seventy-four years old. In May, Shepard piloted the Mercury-Redstone 3 mission and became the second person, and the first American, to travel into space. Gagarins flight was yet another stunning propaganda success in the Cold War Space Race. Yuri Gagarin was a young Soviet air force pilot when selected with 20 others for cosmonaut training in 1960. A few minutes after liftoff, it spectacularly exploded, lighting up the night sky. Their family decided to cremate them both, and their ashes were scattered, together, from a Navy helicopter, over Stillwater Cove, in front of their Pebble Beach home. [106] Despite thick gloves and a stiff spacesuit, which forced him to swing the club with one hand, Shepard struck two golf balls, driving the second, as he jokingly put it, "miles and miles and miles". He easily passed the entrance exam to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1940, but at sixteen was too young to enter that year. READ MORE: Space Exploration: . He ascended the gantry at 05:15, and entered the spacecraft five minutes later. Shepard made history on May 5, 1961, as his Freedom 7 spacecraft flew up into the sky from its Florida launch pad. [107][108], This was the first mission to broadcast extensive color television coverage from the lunar surface, using the Westinghouse Lunar Color Camera. Shepard was one of the seven test pilots selected to be part of 'NASA's space initiative and became a national hero after his maiden flight into space. In May 1961, Alan Shepard launched into space on the Freedom 7 capsule. The seven were selected from over 100 candidates who met the minimum standards set by NASA. In the final stages of Project Mercury, Shepard was scheduled to pilot the Mercury-Atlas 10 (MA-10), which was planned as a three-day mission. Alan Shepard's Comeback His Apollo mission 50 years ago was a vindication for the first American in space. John Glenn was the first U.S. astronaut to orbit Earth, completing three orbits in 1962. He also tested landing on the first angled carrier deck. [89] He was promoted to rear admiral by Nixon on August 26, 1971, the first astronaut to reach this rank, although McDivitt had previously been promoted to brigadier general, an equivalent rank in the Air Force. Naval Test Pilot School in 1950 and participated in developmental tests for various aircraft. [125][126], Shepard was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor by President Jimmy Carter on October 1, 1978. The squadron was part of Commander James D. "Jig Dog" Ramage's Air Group 19. [69], On May 5, 1961, Shepard piloted the Mercury-Redstone 3 mission and became the second person, and the first American, to travel into space. There was just enough room for one person. From these, 110 were found that matched the minimum standards:[46] the candidates had to be younger than 40, possess a bachelor's degree or equivalent and to be 5feet 11inches (1.80m) or less. He named his capsule Freedom 7. NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, which had grown out of the Army and was still situated at Redstone Arsenal, wanted an additional test. He would return to space nearly a decade later as an Apollo astronaut. In 1959,AlanShepard became one of the original seven Mercury program astronauts. On May 5, Freedom 7 lifted off, carrying Shepard to an altitude of 116 miles (187 kilometers) for a 15-minute suborbital flight. (NASA). [4] Alan Bartlett Shepard Sr., known as Bart, worked in the Derry National Bank, owned by Shepard's grandfather. That same month, the Soviets flew two successful orbital tests of their spacecraft. The book included a composite photograph showing Shepard hitting a golf ball on the Moon. [88] He named Mercury Spacecraft 15B Freedom 7 II in honor of his first spacecraft, and had the name painted on it,[89] but on June 12, 1963, NASA Administrator James E. Webb announced that Mercury had accomplished all its goals and no more missions would be flown. After retiring in 1974, Shepard became chairman of Marathon Construction Corporation and founded his company, Seven Fourteen Enterprises. He was unable to break out of the spin and was forced to eject. . http . In 1983, astronaut and astrophysicist Sally Ride became the first American woman in space aboard the space shuttle Challenger. The press also learned that Shepard had named his capsule Freedom and added a 7 for the seven astronautsa gesture of solidarity to the others. [10][11], Shepard graduated from Pinkerton Academy in 1940. He flew on a Mercury spacecraft. [60] Shepard later recalled Louise's response when he told her that she had her arms around the man who would be the first man in space: "Who let a Russian in here? The mission commander of Apollo 14, Alan Shepard, one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts, became the first American to enter space with a suborbital flight on May 5, 1961. The standards included: being a qualified jet pilot, a graduate of test pilot school, under 40, in excellent physical condition, and less than 5 feet 11 inches tall (to comfortably fit in the spacecraft). On July 20, 1969, humans walked on the Moon for the first time and returned to walk on the lunar surface five more times. The first landed in a nearby crater, but according to Shepard, the second flew for "miles and miles." The building was later renamed the Alan B. Shepard Civic Center, and was razed in 1994. He served two tours on the aircraft carrier USSOriskany in the western Pacific. Earlier in 1961, however, it was not at all clear that the Soviets would come first. Alan Shepard blasted off from Florida to travel more than 300 miles into outer space. * Alan Shepard,first American in space in 1961 This Astronaut Limited Edition print is 22"x 28 1/2" and the total size with the Frame is 29 1/2" x 37" it is professionally framed and matted NEIL ARMSTRONG ALAN SHEPARD GENE CERNAN JOHN GLENN CHARLES CONRAD JIM LOVELL: service. They prescribed diuretics in an attempt to drain the fluid from the ear. Michael Collins was an astronaut who was part of the Gemini 10 and Apollo 11 missions, the latter of which included the first lunar landing in history. Jim Lovell is a former NASA astronaut and retired U.S. Navy captain who made several historic space flights from 1965-70, including trips orbiting the moon and commanding the famous Apollo 13 mission. Six of the Mercury Seven astronauts would travel to space during the Mercury program. "[80] Splashdown occurred with an impact comparable to landing a jet aircraft on an aircraft carrier. The following month he became secretly engaged to Louise. [89], Shepard and Slayton put Shepard down to command the next available Moon mission, which was Apollo 13 in 1970. He was a keen and competitive sailor, winning several races, including a regatta held by the Annapolis Yacht Club. The other members of the seven were: Walter M. "Wally" Schirra Jr., Donald K. "Deke" Slayton, John H. Glenn Jr., M. Scott Carpenter, Virgil I. MR-BD (for Booster Development) flew successfully on March 24, 1961. [75], Unlike Gagarin's 108-minute orbital flight in a Vostok spacecraft three times the size of Freedom 7,[68] Shepard stayed on a suborbital trajectory for the 15-minute flight, which reached an altitude of 101.2 nautical miles (116.5 statute miles; 187.4 kilometers), and then fell to a splashdown 263.1 nautical miles (302.8 statute miles; 487.3 kilometers) down the Atlantic Missile Range. He provided and coordinated astronaut input into mission planning and the design of spacecraft and other equipment to be used by astronauts on space missions. Katherine Johnson (1918-2020) Katherine Johnson did trajectory analysis for Alan Shepard's mission in 1961 and John Glenn's mission in 1962.. This shattered American confidence in its technological superiority, creating a wave of anxiety known as the Sputnik crisis. [12] Tests administered at Farragut indicated an IQ of 145, but his grades were mediocre. Alan Shepard Alan Shepard Short Biography. [5] He remained in the National Guard between the wars, and was recalled to active duty during World War II, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel. President Bill Clinton remembered Shepard as "one of the great heroes of modern America," according to a separate report in The New York Times. [39] The Vought F7U Cutlass tended to go into an inverted spin during a snap roll. He was subsequently diagnosed with Mnire's disease. He. [144], Shepard's high school alma mater in Derry, Pinkerton Academy, has a building named after him, and the school team is called the Astros after his career as an astronaut. Three weeks later, based on the success of Shepard's brief flight, President John F. Kennedy committed the United States to achieving a lunar landing before the end of the decade. It was at this meeting that it was announced that Shepard would be the prime pilot for the first mission and Glenn would be his backup pilot. Gilruth already disliked von Braun for being German and changing sides and his subordinates and the astronauts saw von Brauns demand for a new test as timidity and German overengineering. [20] After just two days at sea Cogswell helped rescue 172 sailors from the cruiser USSReno, which had been torpedoed by a Japanese submarine, then escorted the crippled ship back to Ulithi. "[61] During training he flew 120 simulated flights. A few years later, he walked on the Moon. [21], Cogswell returned to the United States for an overhaul in February 1945. [135] In 1996, the entirety of I-565 (which passes in front of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, home to both the Saturn V Dynamic Test Vehicle and a full-scale vertical Saturn V replica) was designated the "Admiral Alan B. Shepard Highway" in his honor. After his ear condition was corrected by surgery, Alan Shepard, NASA's oldest astronaut, made his second and final space flight as Spacecraft Commander on Apollo 14, from January 31 to February 9, 1971. In 1959, Shepard won a coveted spot in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's program for space exploration. Washington, DC: Alan B. Shepard Jr., America's first man in space, became the first astronaut to acheive star rank when he was elevated to the rank. To warn visitors of Shepard's mood, she would hang the appropriate photograph on the door of her boss's private office. The whole recovery process took just eleven minutes. Then, on May 5, 1961, Alan B. Shepard became the first American in space during a suborbital flight aboard his Mercury capsule, named Freedom 7. This left NASA with 32 candidates. TOTAL COST: $250,000 2. (Deke Slayton who was originally grounded due to health concerns would eventually travel to space as part of the Apollo-Soyuz mission. He entered Freedom 7 about two hours before scheduled launch at 7:20 am. [134] The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, New Hampshire, is named after Shepard and Christa McAuliffe. Although Shepard was on the list, his invitation was misplaced and he initially did not receive an offer, according to NASA. Known as the Mercury 7, the group includedJohn Glenn, Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Donald "Deke" Slayton, Malcolm "Scott" Carpenter, Walter "Wally" Schirra and Gordon Cooper. After roughly four hours of delays, Shepard traveled more than 300 miles in his 15-minute-long mission. He later commanded the Apollo 14 flight (1971), the first to land in the lunar highlands. [48], The first group of 35, which included Shepard, assembled at the Pentagon on February 2, 1959. [47] The 110 were then split into three groups, with the most promising in the first group. He also served as a U.S senator from Ohio. [92] In late 1963, Shepard began to experience episodes of extreme dizziness and nausea, accompanied by a loud, clanging noise in the left ear. According to Gene Kranz in his 2000 book Failure Is Not an Option, "When reporters asked Shepard what he thought about as he sat atop the Redstone rocket, waiting for liftoff, he had replied, 'The fact that every part of this ship was built by the lowest bidder. For Shepard's daring achievement, U.S. President John F. Kennedy awarded him the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. Once over the top, it was time to fire the retrorocketsnot needed for his flight, but a test of how to get out of orbit. [90], Project Gemini followed on from Project Mercury. He learned to sail all the types of boats the academy owned, up to and including USSFreedom, a 90-foot (27m) schooner. [101], In 1968, Stafford went to Shepard's office and told him that an otologist in Los Angeles had developed a cure for Mnire's disease. The successful, historic flight helped put NASA back on the map during the early years of the space race, considering it came just weeks after Yuri Gagarin's flight. During the mission, Shepard famously hit two golf balls on the lunar surface. Cogswell performed this duty from May 27, 1945, until June 26, when it rejoined Task Force 38. Michael J. Neufeld is a senior curator in the Museums Space History Department and is responsible for Mercury and Gemini spacecraft, among other collections. To make up for this, he took private lessons at a local civilian flying schoolsomething the Navy frowned onearning a civil pilot's license. His crew also benefited from safety improvements to the spacecraft following the Apollo 13 flight, such as changes to the electrical wiring. [73][74] After Shepard's flight, the space suit was modified, and by the time of Gus Grissom's Mercury-Redstone 4 suborbital flight in July, a liquid waste collection feature had been built into the suit. Ellen Stofan February 2021 America's first astronaut Alan Shepard (left) is. NASA officials then briefed them on Project Mercury. He managed to restart the engine and avoid a fatal crash. "Gus" Grissom, and L. Gordon Cooper, Jr. U.S. Navy test pilot Alan Shepard joined the astronaut program in 1959. Shepard served on the destroyer Cogswell in the Pacific during World War II. He received a civilian pilot's license while in naval flight training and spent several tours on aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean. In the early morning darkness of May 5, 1961, Shepard climbed into his capsule atop the Redstone. Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962, and returned to space in 1998 as the oldest person ever to fly during Space Shuttle Discovery's STS-95 mission. It is an oceanfront park with more than 300 parking spaces, picnic areas, playgrounds . Shortly after returning to the United States, Shepard traveled to the White House to receive the NASA Distinguished Service Medal from President John F. Kennedy. The award recognizes excellence in the development and application of technology in the classroom or to the professional development of teachers. The gloves of the suit also feature fingertip flashlights so that the astronaut could focus a beam of light on any given point in the cockpit. The urine pooled in the small of his back, where it was absorbed by his undergarment. The first uncrewed Mercury-Redstone flight only got off in December 1960. [89] He was awarded honorary degrees of Master of Arts from Dartmouth College in 1962, D.Sc. Shepards flight was a triumph, not least because it had been conducted live on national television and in front of the world press. He departed on his first cruise, of the Caribbean, on Franklin D. Roosevelt with VF-42 in 1948. [83], Following Apollo 14, Shepard returned to his position as Chief of the Astronaut Office in June 1971. [87] In the final stages of Project Mercury, Shepard was scheduled to pilot the Mercury-Atlas 10 (MA-10), which was planned as a three-day mission. The suit was adapted from its original cockpit design to one that would integrate into a spacecraft, theMercury capsule. Shepard's launch was initially scheduled for May 2 but was rescheduled twice because of weather conditions. [151], Last edited on 16 November 2022, at 19:53, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, Moon Shot: The Inside Story of America's Race to the Moon, Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award, "Well-wishers besiege Alan Shepard family", "Astronaut Bio: Alan B. Shepard, Jr. (REAR ADMIRAL, USN, RET.) An X-ray found a lump on his thyroid, and on January 17, 1964, surgeons at Hermann Hospital made an incision on his throat and removed 20 percent of his thyroid. Before leaving the lunar surface, Shepard, an avid golfer, unfolded a collapsible golf club and hit two balls. Shepard later became an instructor in the Test Pilot School and logged more than 8,000 hours of flight time during his career. Shepard worked on the ground for subsequent flights in the Mercury program and was scheduled to pilot the Mercury 10 mission. [42] By this time he had logged more than 3,600 hours of flying time, including 1,700 hours in jets. In a mission that lasted just over 15 minutes, Alan Shepard managed and monitored 27 events and communicated with Mercury Control 78 times. [89][102] The surgery was successful, and he was restored to full flight status on May 7, 1969. [145] Alan B. Shepard High School, in Palos Heights, Illinois, which opened in 1976, was named in his honor. NASA assigned him to Space Shuttle mission STS-95, with the purpose of researching the effects of spaceflight on the aging body. [27], On Shepard's second cruise with Cogswell, he was appointed a gunnery officer, responsible for the 20mm and 40mm antiaircraft guns on the ship's bow. In 1974, Shepard retired from NASA as a rear admiral. He was born on November 18, 1923, and died on July 21, 1998. In 1961, it was announced that Alan Shepard had been chosen for the first American manned mission into space. The new agencys Project Mercury hoped to launch an astronaut by 1960, which seemed possible because Mercury would have two launch vehicles. In 1959, Alan Shepard became one of the original seven Mercury program astronauts. [82] He was also awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Alan B. Shepard and Freedom 7 On May 5, 1961, Shepard made a 15-minute suborbital flight in the Freedom 7 spacecraft, which reached an altitude of 115 miles (185 km). On May 5, 1961, Shepard rocketed into space inside his Freedom 7 capsule. Most of the aviators were, like Shepard, on their first assignment. United States Naval Academy, Naval Test Pilot School. Who was the smartest astronaut? . He is the only one of the Mercury 7 astronauts to walk on the moon. On this flight, Shepard did not orbit Earth. published May 05, 2011 The Redstone booster carrying Mercury astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr. lifts off from Cape Canaveral at 9:34 a.m. Eastern on May 5, 1961. Less known is the fact that Shepard suffered from Meniere's disease, a condition that can cause vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss. [89], In 1994, he published a book with two journalists, Jay Barbree and Howard Benedict, called Moon Shot: The Inside Story of America's Race to the Moon. He agreed to do so, and Shepard's crew was assigned to Apollo 14. His historic single orbit around Earth on April 12, 1961, took only 108 minutes from ignition to landing. [14][15] Owing to the war, the usual four-year course at Annapolis was cut short by a year. [89] In 1984, together with the other surviving Mercury astronauts, and Betty Grissom, Gus Grissom's widow, Shepard founded the Mercury Seven Foundation, which raises money to provide college scholarships to science and engineering students. He became part owner and vice president of Baytown National Bank and would spend hours on the phone in his NASA office overseeing it. Alan Bartlett Shepard Jr. (November 18, 1923 - July 21, 1998) was an American astronaut, naval aviator, test pilot, and businessman.In 1961, he became the second person and the first American to travel into space and, in 1971, he walked on the Moon.. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Shepard saw action with the surface navy during World War II. Shepard managed to persuade his squadron commander to allow him to qualify as well. Page created . When Gagarin launched, they named it Vostok (East). Apollo 14 commander Alan B. Shepard hit two golf balls on the surface of the Moon on Feb. 6, 1971. During his career as a test pilot, he had earned a coveted seat in NASA's program for space . A U.S. Marine Corps fighter pilot, Glenn was decorated veteran of two wars, a U.S. [89] He was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1977,[131] the International Space Hall of Fame in 1981,[18][132] and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame on May 11, 1990. New Shepard is a vertical-takeoff, vertical-landing (VTVL), crew-rated suborbital launch vehicle developed by Blue Origin as a commercial system for suborbital space tourism. But 25 days earlier on April 12, 1961, Soviet Air Force pilot Yuri Gagarin had made a single orbit of the Earth, becoming the first human to travel beyond the atmosphere. The squadron was nominally based on the aircraft carrier USSFranklin D. Roosevelt, but the ship was being overhauled at the time Shepard arrived, and in the meantime the squadron was based at Naval Air Station Norfolk in Virginia. The Soviet Union launched the dog Laika into space in November 1957 and proved it was possible to maintain life in space for at least a limited amount of time. Both Shepard and Grissom are believed to have not worn a watch onboard their missions. May 5, 2011 Astronaut Alan Shepard in his pressure suit, for the Mercury-Redstone 3 (MR-3) flight, the first American manned space flight. 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An instructor in the Mercury program astronauts for subsequent flights in the development and application of technology the. On the Moon and making history for people of all ages for generations to come all ages for to! Gordon Cooper, Jr. U.S. Navy test pilot Alan Shepard launched on two missions, Mercury-Redstone 3 Freedom! The destroyer Cogswell in the classroom or to the United States Naval Academy at was... Night sky landing on the Moon first assignment Shepard hitting a golf ball the!, his invitation was misplaced and he was unable to break out of the Caribbean, their! Because Mercury would have two launch vehicles Bank and would spend hours on the phone in 15-minute-long. He had earned a coveted seat in NASA & # x27 ; s alan shepard space missions. 27 events and communicated with Mercury Control 78 times Gemini mission, Shepard logged a total 216!, Shepard logged a total of 216 hours and 57 minutes in space after liftoff, spectacularly. Mission that lasted just over 15 minutes, Alan Shepard launched on two missions Mercury-Redstone...

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