On February 20, 1962, the United States marked a historic milestone in the space race as astronaut Major John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth. Piloting the Friendship 7 spacecraft, Glenn completed three full orbits of the planet, travelling a total of 65,763 nautical miles in just under five hours.
The mission, known as Mercury-Atlas 6, represented a defining moment for the United States, which had been striving to match the Soviet Union’s early achievements in space exploration. Less than a year earlier, on April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin had stunned the world by becoming the first human to orbit the Earth, placing significant pressure on the American space programme to respond.
Glenn’s successful flight demonstrated not only the technical capabilities of NASA but also the resilience and skill of its astronauts. Launching from Cape Canaveral aboard an Atlas rocket, Friendship 7 carried Glenn safely into orbit, where he witnessed breathtaking views of the Earth and conducted experiments that would contribute to understanding how the human body functions in space.
Despite minor technical concerns during re-entry, including a warning related to the spacecraft’s heat shield, Glenn returned safely to Earth, splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean to a hero’s welcome.
The Mercury-Atlas 6 mission was more than a technological achievement. It was a symbolic victory during the Cold War, boosting American confidence and reinforcing the nation’s determination to compete in the rapidly evolving domain of space exploration.
John Glenn’s journey not only secured his place in history but also paved the way for future American missions that would eventually lead to the Moon landings later in the decade.
Watch the moment history was made as John Glenn launches aboard Friendship 7 and becomes the first American to orbit the Earth in a mission that captivated millions around the world:
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