Table of Contents
Why is John Glenn important?
He was one of the Mercury Seven, military test pilots selected in 1959 by NASA as the nation’s first astronauts. On February 20, 1962, Glenn flew the Friendship 7 mission, becoming the first American to orbit the Earth, the third American and fifth person in history to be in space.
Did John Glenn almost burn up?
After Glenn began his second orbit, Mission Control received a signal that the heat shield, designed to prevent the capsule from burning up during reentry, was loose. Although it could have been a faulty signal, Mission Control took no chances. If it hadn’t, Glenn and his capsule would have been incinerated.
What was the name of John Glenns space capsule?
John Glenn gave his space capsule its famous nickname. Glenn inspecting the artwork design for “Friendship 7.” (Credit: NASA) The official name for Glenn’s mission was Mercury-Atlas 6.
Who are the astronauts on the Glenn Space Shuttle?
Joining Glenn on the shuttle were Mission Commander Curt Brown, Pilot Steve Lindsey, Mission Specialists Scott Parazynski, Steve Robinson and European Space Agency astronaut Pedro Duque, and payload specialist Chiaki Mukai from the Japanese Space Agency. The flight aboard the shuttle was quite different from Glenn’s first mission.
Who was Jim Betts and why did he challenge Glenn?
Jim Betts, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary, challenged Glenn for his seat. Betts publicly stated that Glenn’s policies were part of the reason for inflation increases and a lower standard of living. Betts’ campaign also attacked Glenn’s voting record, saying that he often voted for spending increases.
Where did Annie and Glenn go to college?
After graduating in 1939, Glenn entered Muskingum College, where he studied chemistry, joined the Stag Club fraternity, and played on the football team. Annie majored in music with minors in secretarial studies and physical education and competed on the swimming and volleyball teams.