Project Mercury astronaut John Glenn enters the Friendship 7 on Feb. 20, 1962. At 9:47 a.m. EST, he lifted off into orbit for a three-orbit mission lasting four hours, 55 minutes and 23 seconds. Glenn and his spacecraft were recovered by the destroyer Noa just 21 minutes after landing in the Atlantic.
Project Mercury astronaut John Glenn enters the Friendship 7 on Feb. 20, 1962. At 9:47 a.m. EST, he lifted off into orbit for a three-orbit mission lasting four hours, 55 minutes and 23 seconds. Glenn and his spacecraft were recovered by the destroyer Noa just 21 minutes after landing in the Atlantic near Grand Turk Island, to successfully complete the nation’s first manned orbital flight.
Image Credit: NASA