Annie glenn
- •
John Glenn: America's 1st space hero
Editor's note: John Glenn, a legendary NASA astronaut and American hero, died on Dec. 8, 2016, at age 95. Read our full obituary here.
John Glenn was a NASA astronaut who, in 1962, made history by becoming the first American to orbit Earth. He was one of the "Mercury 7," NASA's first astronaut class.
Glenn was a vital part of the U.S. space program, and his orbit around the planet was an important equalizing step in the space race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union after cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human in space in April 1961. Whereas Gagarin made just one orbit of Earth, Glenn made three, perhaps as a result of a desire to always take things to the next level.
"Glenn was a man who seemed to be driven by one overriding purpose: to utilize his abilities to the fullest extent possible and to increase what he once called 'mankind's ever-broadening store of knowledge. He welcomed the unknown and longed to explore it," space historian Andrew Chaikin wrote in a 2016 article for Scientific American. "Wit
- •
John Glenn
(1921-2016)
Who Was John Glenn?
A Marine pilot, John Glenn was selected in 1959 for Project Mercury astronaut training. He became a backup pilot for Alan B. Shepard Jr. and Virgil "Gus" Grissom, who made the first two U.S. suborbital flights into space. Glenn was selected for the first orbital flight, and in 1962, aboard Friendship 7, he made three orbits around Earth. After his decorated service in the U.S. Marine Corps and NASA, Glenn went on to serve as U.S. Senator from his home state.
Early Life
Famed American astronaut and politician John Glenn Jr. was born in Cambridge, Ohio, on July 18, 1921, to John and Clara Glenn. When he was two years old, his family moved to the small town of New Concord, Ohio, where his father ran a plumbing business. Glenn developed an early interest in science, particularly aeronautics, and a sense of patriotism that would lead him to serve his country later in life. According to Glenn's official website, he had a very happy childhood. “A boy could not have had a more idyllic early childhood than I did,” he wrote.
- •
Biography of John H. Glenn
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
John H. Glenn Research Center
Lewis Field
Cleveland, Ohio 44135
Born July 18, 1921 in Cambridge, Ohio. Married to the former Anna Margaret Castor of New Concord, Ohio. They have two grown children and two grandchildren.
Glenn attended primary and secondary schools in New Concord, Ohio. He attended Muskingum College in New Concord and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering. Muskingum College also awarded him an honorary Doctor of Science degree in engineering. He has received honorary doctoral degrees from nine colleges or universities.
Glenn has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross on six occasions, and holds the Air Medal with 18 Clusters for his service during World War II and Korea. Glenn also holds the Navy Unit Commendation for service in Korea, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the China Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the Korean Presid
Copyright ©bandfull.pages.dev 2025