From the new Dispatch editorial cartoonist, Nate Beeler…
John Glenn’s Friendship 7 flight took less than five hours, but the lessons NASA learned that day continue to propel the agency forward today.
Back then, in 1962, the U.S. was falling behind in the space race. And though NASA had sent humans into space, they still had questions about sending one around Earth.
As declared earlier this year, today is John Glenn Friendship 7 Day!
We put together lots of photos, stories and graphics to commemorate the day, 50 years ago today, that John Glenn became the first human to orbit the Earth. Check it out!
In Ohio, Feb. 20 is now “John Glenn Friendship 7 Day.”
Above: Ohio Governor John Kasich laughs with John Glenn during a ceremony declaring a day to honor the former astronaut and senator. Photo by Dispatch photographer Fred Squillante
Start a question to former U.S. Sen. John Glenn by saying, “You’ve lived such a historic life,” and you’ll be interrupted and mildly admonished.
“Let’s change the tense of that — are living,” Glenn said with his eye-crinkling smile. “Don’t put it in the past tense.”
Read our story about the amazing life of astronaut, senator and native Ohioan John Glenn (who definitely is still alive and has only just begun to slow down a bit).
Bonus: Being a longtime Ohio hero earns you a large chunk of photos in our archive…
Ohioans Neil Armstrong (left) and John Glenn will receive Congressional Gold Medals today. Armstrong’s Apollo 11 crewmates Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and Michael Collins also will be honored.
Fellow Ohioan and House Speaker John Boehner said the medal represents Congress’ highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions.
“Given the magnitude of each of their individual contributions to America and spaceflight, awarding them the Gold Medal will be a great way to honor their tremendous accomplishments,” he said.
Astronaut and U.S. Senator John Glenn, right, takes a ride on the Giant Slide at the 1970 Ohio State Fair with John J. Gilligan, who was the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor at the time.
Happy 90th birthday, John Glenn!
(Columbus Dispatch shown above is from Feb. 20, 1962)
