At the moment within the historical past of astronomy, the primary American orbits Earth.
John Glenn rides with President John F. Kennedy in a parade in Cocoa Seaside, Florida, after Glenn’s return from area. Credit score: NASA, Public area, by way of Wikimedia Commons
On Feb. 20, 1962, Mercury-Atlas 6 mission launched, sending the Friendship 7 capsule containing John Glenn into orbit. Two Soviets – Yuri Gagarin and Gherman Titov – had beforehand orbited Earth, however Glenn was the primary American to take action, and his flight proved the competitiveness of the U.S. within the area race.
The flight lasted 4 hours and 55 minutes, making three orbits of the planet, throughout which he photographed Earth and ate a tube of applesauce to check digestion in area. Although technical challenges compelled Glenn to pilot the spacecraft manually for the ultimate two orbits and a defective sensor recommended {that a} warmth protect was free, Glenn safely reentered the ambiance and splashed down within the Atlantic Ocean. He was celebrated as a nationwide hero, and would go on to a political profession and a return to area many years later, on the age of 77.
