ikenbot: Godspeed, John Glenn: 1st American in Orbit Reflects on NASA’s Space Legacy Fifty years ago, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth, and his nearly five-hour expedition ushered in a new era of spaceflight for the nation. On Feb. 20, 1962, Glenn piloted NASA’s Mercury capsule, known as Friendship 7, three times around Earth, reaching a maximum altitude of about 162 miles (261 kilometers). Glenn’s orbital milestone matched the groundbreaking achievement of the rival Soviet Union, which launched cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin into orbit 10 months earlier. On Monday (Feb. 20), NASA will salute 50 years of Americans in orbit by honoring Glenn and his Friendship 7 flight. Since that fateful journey, the agency landed astronauts on the moon, flew 135 space shuttle flights and constructed a $100 billion laboratory in space, among many other accomplishments. Following the Friendship 7 flight, Glenn was heralded as an American hero, and five decades later, his orbital journey still resonates with the public.

ikenbot:

Godspeed, John Glenn: 1st American in Orbit Reflects on NASA’s Space Legacy

Fifty years ago, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth, and his nearly five-hour expedition ushered in a new era of spaceflight for the nation.

On Feb. 20, 1962, Glenn piloted NASA’s Mercury capsule, known as Friendship 7, three times around Earth, reaching a maximum altitude of about 162 miles (261 kilometers). Glenn’s orbital milestone matched the groundbreaking achievement of the rival Soviet Union, which launched cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin into orbit 10 months earlier.

On Monday (Feb. 20), NASA will salute 50 years of Americans in orbit by honoring Glenn and his Friendship 7 flight. Since that fateful journey, the agency landed astronauts on the moon, flew 135 space shuttle flights and constructed a $100 billion laboratory in space, among many other accomplishments.

Following the Friendship 7 flight, Glenn was heralded as an American hero, and five decades later, his orbital journey still resonates with the public.