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LEGENDIn MemoriamNASA
LEGENDIn MemoriamNASANASA·🇺🇸 United States·Born 1921
John Glenn
First American to orbit the Earth (February 20, 1962)
218h
Hours in Space
2
Missions
0
EVAs
—
EVA Time
Zero G and I feel fine.
I don't know what you could see from a higher altitude that would be more beautiful than what I saw.
As I hurtled through space, one thought kept crossing my mind — every part of this rocket was supplied by the lowest bidder.
Inspirations
Charles Lindbergh
What they aspire to
He hoped his return to space at age 77 would advance research on aging and inspire older Americans to keep contributing.
Biography
First American to orbit Earth. Returned to space at age 77 aboard STS-95, the oldest person to fly in space at the time.
Before NASAU.S. Marine Corps fighter pilot who flew combat missions in World War II and Korea before becoming a test pilot and setting a transcontinental supersonic speed record in 1957.
Records & Firsts
Notable accomplishments by John Glenn
- First American to orbit the Earth (February 20, 1962)
- Oldest person in space at the time (age 77, STS-95, 1998)
Mission Timeline
- Pilot
Mercury capsule
Mercury-Atlas 6 (Friendship 7)
Launch: Feb 20, 1962Landing: Feb 20, 1962Duration: 1 day- First American to orbit Earth
- Three orbits in 4 hours 55 minutes
- Payload Specialist
Space Shuttle Discovery
STS-95
Launch: Oct 29, 1998Landing: Nov 7, 1998Duration: 9 days- Oldest person in space at age 77
Beyond the Mission
Hobbies & Interests
boatingwater skiinggolf
Causes They Champion
John Glenn College of Public Affairs at Ohio State UniversitySTEM educationPublic service
Languages
English
Awards & Honors
- Congressional Space Medal of Honor
- Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Congressional Gold Medal
- Distinguished Flying Cross (six times)
- NASA Distinguished Service Medal
Authored
- John Glenn: A Memoir(1999)· Bantam
Fun fact
At 77 he became the oldest person to fly in space aboard STS-95, returning 36 years after his Mercury orbital flight.
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