John Glenn orbits the Earth

Filed under:
Air and Space Events
Event date:
February 20, 2025 (This event repeats every year)
Location:
Cape Canaveral, Florida
Anniversary:
February 20, 1962 (63 year anniversary)
Description:

John Glenn was an American astronaut and U.S. Senator who became the first American to orbit the Earth on February 20, 1962. At the age of 40, Glenn was launched aboard Friendship 7 during theMercury-Atlas 6 mission. He completed three orbits around the planet, making him a national hero. This mission marked a significant milestone in the U.S. space race against the Soviet Union. Glenn later served as a U.S. Senator from Ohio for 24 years. In 1998, at the age of 77, he made history again by becoming the oldest person to fly in space aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery.