In the morning hours of May 5, 1961, Commander Alan Shepard cemented his place in history when he became the first American to journey into the final frontier, propelling the United States into the Space Race and signaling a glorious new era of cosmic discovery.  Today, as we celebrate National Astronaut Day, we pay tribute to the generations of brave men and women who have followed in his footsteps and are now carrying our Nation’s beautiful Flag farther into space than ever before. Commander Shepard’s courage aboard Freedom 7 will forever stand as a testament to American excellence and our relentless pursuit into the unknown.  Since that epic flight, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has continued to push the boundaries of human potential.  From Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin etching humanity’s first footprints on the ancient dust of the lunar surface to landing rovers on Mars, America continues to set the gold standard for space exploration—and together, our Nation is…