Remembering the Life of John Glenn

Although his dream of being the first American in space didn’t come true, John Glenn is likely more famous today than Alan Shepard. Glenn is well-known for serving as a United States Senator for nearly a quarter century, but he is best known as the first American to orbit Earth 60 years ago on February 20, 1962. Aboard the Friendship 7 spacecraft, Glenn orbited Earth three times, traveling a total of 81,000 miles in less than five hours.

John Glenn, Jr. was born in Cambridge, Ohio, on July 18, 1921, to John and Clara Glenn. After graduating from New Concord High School in 1939, he attended nearby Muskingum College. Glenn began his career with the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1942. After joining the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943, he flew 59 missions in the South Pacific during World War II and 90 more missions in the Korean War. He later graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and made the first transcontinental flight with an average supersonic speed in 1957 when he flew from California to New York in 3 hours and 23 minutes.

In 1959, Glen took on a new challenge when he was selected for the U.S. Space Program. He and six others went through rigorous training and became known as the “Mercury 7.” On February 20, 1962, Friendship 7 launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. After the mission, Glenn became an American hero, and President JFK presented him with the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. He continued to serve as an advisor to NASA until 1964.

In 1964, Glenn began to pursue a career in politics. After multiple attempts for a Senate seat, he was elected in 1974. The Ohio Democrat served four terms in Congress and was part of several committees, including the Committee on Government Affairs. Glenn also campaigned for more funds for space exploration, science, and education.

Thirty-six years after his historic first orbit, John Glenn returned to space on the Space Shuttle Discovery. At the age of 77, Glenn was the oldest person in space at the time. On his flight, he helped NASA research what being in space does to older people. Because NASA knew so much about him, he was perfect for the job.

Glenn married his high school sweetheart, Annie. From an early age, Annie had struggled with stuttering. Because of that, she was a staunch supporter for people with disabilities and communication disorders. John Glenn passed away on December 8, 2016, at the age of 95, and the legendary astronaut and senator was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery on April 6, 2017, which would have been their 74th wedding anniversary.