Feb 20 1962
From The Space Library
Mercury spacecraft (Capsule 13), FRIENDSHIP 7, was launched into orbit by Atlas booster (109D), Lt. Col. John H. Glenn, Jr., (USMC), as astronaut. After three orbits (apogee: 162.5 mi.; perigee: 98.9 mi.), FRIENDSHIP 7 re-entered and parachuted into Atlantic some 166 miles east of Grand Turk Island in the Bahamas. Picked up by the destroyer Noa, Glenn remained inside capsule until on deck. Beyond being the first U.S. manned orbital space flight, MA-6 flight of FRIENDSHIP 7 provided aerospace medical data during 285 minutes of weightlessness, including consumption of solid and liquid food and disorientation exercises. Astronaut Glenn was forced to "fly by wire" (i.e., pilot the spacecraft) during 2nd and 3rd orbits due to troubles with the automatic pilot. Glenn was pronounced "hale and hearty" after his 81,000-mile flight of 4 hrs. 56 min.
Click here to listen to a news report from the day of John Glenn's historic flight.
Results of the 1st Manned Orbital Space Flight (Mercury Atlas 6/Friendship 7)
President Kennedy made a statement to the press on the lawn of the White House, expressing the "great happiness and thanksgiving of all of us that Col. Glenn has completed his trip . . . .
"I also want to say a word for all those who participated with Col. Glenn in Canaveral. They have faced many disappointments and delays—the burdens upon them were great—but they kept their heads and made a judgment and I think their judgment has been vindicated.
"We have a long way to go in this space race. We started late. But this is the new ocean, and I believe the United States must sail on it and be in a position second to none.
"Some months ago I said that I hoped every American would serve his country. Today Col. Glenn served his, and we all express our thanks to him." Estimated that over 60 million Americans witnessed the launch of FRIENDSHIP 7 on live TV. Voice of America carried live overseas radio coverage. The U.S. Senate recessed at 2:30 PM EST just before the landing of Mercury spacecraft. The U.S. Post Office placed Project Mercury postage stamp on sale minutes after Astronaut Glenn stepped on the deck of Noa.
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