Astronaut Alan Shepard, Jr., America s first man in space, poses in the Mercury space craft in 1961.

Image: AP Photo/Associated Press

By Amanda Wills2014-05-05 12:32:14 UTC

Fifty three years ago on May 5, 1961, NASA astronaut Alan Shepard blasted off in a Freedom 7 capsule atop a Mercury-Redstone rocket to become the first American in space.

Though his sub-orbital flight only lasted 15 minutes, it was a historical moment in the Space Race against the Soviet Union.

However, a little known fact about this flight is what took place before it. Shepard sat in the rocket for five hours because of delays, and the astronaut really had to use the restroom.

"Man, I got to pee," Shepard said to launch control.

That really wasn't an option for Shepard, who was already strapped in tight and ready for launch. And NASA wasn't prepared either because officials figured the mission would be short enough to avoid a scenario like this. Shepard, who donned a shiny silver spacesuit and was covered in wired medical sensors, couldn't just pee on himself.

However, NASA didn't have a choice Shepard, who had been in the spacecraft for a total of eight hours, really had to go.

See the original post:

The First American in Space Wore a Pee-Soaked Spacesuit