Remember when we had a space program? Those were very good days.
Today is the 51st anniversary of when John Glenn first orbited the earth in the Mercury Friendship 7 space capsule. There was barely enough room to fit him into the capsule, but with the success of his mission, the USA began its incredible journey to the moon.
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- It was said that you didn’t get into the capsule as much as you wore it.
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- Photo of the Earth taken by John Glenn with a 35-millimeter Ansco Autoset camera he had purchased just before liftoff, seen during Mercury Atlas 6 (Friendship 7) orbital flight on Feb. 20, 1962. (NASA)
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- The capsule splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean. The green dye was intended to aid in recovery in case the capsule sank.
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- Riding with the President at Cape Canaveral. JFK gave Glenn the Distinguished Service Medal.
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- John Glenn delivers a speech to the U.S. Congress during the Washington, DC ceremonies honoring his Friendship 7 space flight, February 26, 1962. (NASA photograph)
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- New York ticker tape parade for the returning hero.
