John glenn

A visual remembrance.

20 February 1962: At 9:47:39 a.m., Eastern Standard Time, NASA’s Mercury-Atlas 6 lifted off from Launch Complex 14, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Cape Canaveral, Florida. This was the third launch of a manned Mercury spacecraft, and the first time that an Atlas rocket had been used. Aboard the spacecraft was Lieutenant Colonel John Herschel Glenn, Jr., United … Continue reading 20 February 1962, 14:47:39 UTC →

John and Annie Glenn

Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, said little if any money will be saved by canceling the shuttle program, considering all the millions of dollars going to Russia for rocket rides, while at least two shuttle flights a year could keep the station going and the work force employed until something new comes along.

Mr. Glenn was a symbol of the space age as the first American to orbit Earth, then became a national political figure representing Ohio in the Senate.

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See historical photos of John Glenn, one of NASA's original seven astronauts and the first American to orbit Earth.

John Glenn

To John Glenn, the real hero was his wife Annie, conqueror of disability.

“I’m not interested in my legacy. I made up a word: ‘live-acy.’ I’m more interested in living.”