US astronaut Alan B.Shepard is photographed with chimpanzee Ham who preceded him in space with a 16' minute 39'' second sub-orbital flight performed aboard the Mercury Redstone rocket on January 31, 1961. Ham's mission paved the way for the successful launch of America's first human astronaut, Alan B. Shepard, Jr., on May 5, 1961. May 5, 2011 marks the 50th anniversary of the historic flight. AFP