On February 20, 1962, John Glenn achieved a historic milestone as the first American to orbit Earth. Aboard his capsule, Friendship 7, he launched atop a Mercury-Atlas rocket. During his nearly five-hour mission, Glenn orbited the planet three times before safely landing in the Atlantic Ocean, roughly 800 miles southeast of Bermuda. Learn more about this remarkable figure in this article.
John Glenn: The American Hero
John Herschel Glenn Jr. wore many hats: astronaut, engineer, Marine Corps aviator, businessman, and politician. In 1962, he became the first American to orbit Earth, completing three orbits. Glenn also distinguished himself as a hero in both World War II and the Korean War. He was close to the Kennedy family and held the record as Ohio’s only four-term senator. Remarkably, he returned to space as an astronaut at age 77, solidifying his legendary status.
John Glenn was one of NASA’s original astronauts, part of the first group chosen for space missions. He later set a record as the oldest person to fly in space. After his time at NASA, Glenn served as a senator from Ohio for 25 years. He also worked with students at Ohio State University in Columbus. In 1959, NASA selected its first group of astronauts, known as the “Mercury Seven,” and Glenn was among them.
In 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth. He named his spacecraft “Friendship 7” and completed three orbits around the planet, spending five hours in space. This mission demonstrated the effectiveness of the Mercury spacecraft and provided NASA with valuable insights into operating in the vacuum of space.
John, born in Ohio, was in college when World War II broke out. He left school to serve, becoming a US Marine pilot. Later, he taught other pilots and even participated in the challenging Korean War.
After the Korean War, John transitioned into a test pilot role. In 1957, he set a remarkable speed record, flying from Los Angeles to New York in under three and a half hours.
Fast forward to 1998, John embarked on another space journey, joining six astronauts on the space shuttle. This second flight, which came thirty-six years after his first, allowed NASA to study how space impacts older individuals.
Given NASA’s extensive knowledge of John, he was an ideal fit for the mission. At seventy-seven, John Glenn became the oldest person to venture into space.
Despite his international fame, the parades, and the streets named in his honor, John Glenn remained humble. He dined with presidents and royalty and signed autographs for celebrities.
Yet, Glenn never exploited his status, seldom raised his voice, and remained a true hero and role model until his death. Astronaut John Glenn, born on July 18, 1921, passed away in Columbus, Ohio, on December 8, 2016, at the age of 95.
The picture above shows the launch of Friendship 7, the first American-crewed orbital space flight. Astronaut John Glenn aboard the Mercury-Atlas rocket is launched from Pad 14 (on the right). The rocket had been developed to carry nuclear bombs as the Atlas Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (left).
Meet The Blue Origin’s New Rocket Named New Glenn.
Blue Origin’s “New Glenn” rocket is an orbital, reusable launch vehicle named after NASA astronaut John Glenn. This heavy-lift rocket has a single configuration and can transport both payloads and people to Earth orbit and beyond. With a reusable first stage designed for 25 missions, “New Glenn” is set to pave the way for future space exploration.
