Dr. von Braun addresses a crowd celebrating in front of the Madison County Alabama Courthouse following the successful launch of Astronaut Alan Shepard (America's first astronaut in space) into space on a Mercury-Redstone Launch Vehicle, Freedom 7. Shepard's Mercury Spacecraft, was launched from Cape Canaveral. He reached a speed of 5200 mph. His flight lasted 15-1/2 minutes. May 5, 1961 (Photo: Courtesy of Huntsville/Madison County Public Library)

Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Director Dr. von Braun and his family were honored with a series of events prior to his relocation to Washington, D.C., where he was assigned duties at NASA Headquarters as Deputy Associate Administrator for Plarning. (Left to right) Dr. von Braun, wife Maria, son Peter, and daughter Margrit are shown on the steps of the Madison County Courthouse, Huntsville, Alabama.

This 1940s photo of the South side of Square in downtown Huntsville, Alabama, looking west, shows a historical bank in the background with cars parked just South of the Courthouse (not shown in photo). (Courtesy of Huntsville/Madison County Public Library)

Apollo 11 splashdown celebration in Huntsville, Alabama, on July 24, 1969. Huntsville Alabama is the home of the Marshall Space Flight Center which developed the Saturn vehicles under the direction of Dr. von Braun. The photo shows Dr. von Braun speaking to the crowd at the Madison County Courthouse as Mayor Joe Davis, Madison County Commissioner James Record and City Council President Ken Johnson look on.

Dr. von Braun was honored with a series of farewell events and ceremonies prior to his reassignment to NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Dr. von Braun speaks to the crowd in front of the Madison County Courthouse in Huntsville, Alabama. Alabama Governor Brewer and U.S. Senator Sparkman are in the foreground.

Prior to MSFC (Marshall Space Flight Center) Director, Dr. von Braun's transfer to NASA Headquarters where he had been appointed Deputy Associate Administrator for Plarning, he was honored during a series of events recognizing his contribution to the space effort during his career in Huntsville, Alabama. In this photo at the Madison County Courthouse, Dr. von Braun is shown seated next to his wife, Maria, as U.S. Senator John Sparkman comments on his career in Huntsville, Alabama, where he worked for both the Army and NASA (National Aeronautic Space Administration).