Tuesday, February 20, 2024

John Glenn Makes History Aboard The Spacecraft, Freedom 7


Sixty-two years ago today, John Glenn rocketed into space history to become the first American to orbit Earth. In 1962, Glenn made three orbits then returned to a splashdown about 500 miles northeast of Puerto Rico. Over the years more 350 Americans have joined him in space travel.


John Glenn in orbit, February 20, 1962


The NASA website has a fine multimedia presentation on Mercury-Atlas 6, the mission that put Glenn and his spacecraft, Friendship 7, into orbit. Wikipedia has a page on the mission and some excellent recommendations for further reading online. To commemorate the event, The Ohio State University has a comprehensive look at Glenn's life and that of his wife, Annie. I also recommend The Right Stuff, Tom Wolfe's outstanding 1979 book on the formative days of the American space program and the seven astronauts - including Glenn - selected for the Mercury program.

When we look back at the American space program, this achievement was one of the nation's proudest moments. It's heartening to see a renewed interest in space exploration let alone definitive commitments to future astronauts, a return to the moon or a mission to Mars on the part of our national government. I imagine this is in part due to commercial competition. You can learn more about our reach into space by the private sector at this this Wired link.


Glenn in training, January 20, 1962



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