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John Glenn Reflects on NASA's Legacy 50 Years After First Orbit
from the Christian Science Monitor
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.
Read more...
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