John Glenn in orbit within Friendship 7
I absolutely love the exploration of space and so long as I am editing this venue it will be a means by which I acknowledge and honor the Sabbath.If anyone cares to take theological issue with that decision, let them go forth and do so, but I consider it a learning opportunity for myself, my readership, and a terrific inspiration.
John Glenn is the last surviving member of the original seven Mercury astronauts, was the fifth human being to go into space, the third American to do so, and the first American to achieve orbit on February 20, 1962.
Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin beat him by almost a year in his shot of April, 1961, which made him the first human being ever to place his body in space and in orbit.
Glenn, who became a Republican Senator from Ohio, actually returned to space on the Space Shuttle on October 29, 1998, becoming, at the age of 77, the oldest person ever to remove himself from the Earth's atmosphere.
I do not know that I am going to touch upon every single manned-mission in the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs going forward on Friday nights, but there are certain achievements that absolutely have to be acknowledged and very high on that list is Glenn's five hour three-orbit flight.
John Glenn lives to this day knowing that he was the first American, and the second human being, to ever orbit the globe.
I can think of few more honorable achievements in this world.