John Glenn was a pioneering American astronaut, decorated military pilot, and long-serving U.S. Senator whose remarkable career spanned decades of public service.
Born in Cambridge, Ohio, on July 18, 1921, Glenn developed a passion for flight early in life. He studied engineering at Muskingum College before enlisting in the Navy in 1942 following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Glenn became a Marine Corps pilot, flying 59 combat missions in World War II and 90 during the Korean War.
Glenn’s aviation prowess led him to set a transcontinental speed record in 1957, flying from Los Angeles to New York in just 3 hours and 23 minutes. This feat caught the attention of NASA, and in 1959, he was selected as one of the original seven Mercury astronauts.
On February 20, 1962, Glenn achieved his most famous accomplishment. Aboard Friendship 7, he became the first American to orbit the Earth, circling the planet three times in just under five hours. This mission, coming at the height of the Cold War, reinvigorated the U.S. space program and made Glenn a national hero.
After leaving NASA in 1964, Glenn entered politics. He was elected to the U.S. Senate as a Democrat from Ohio in 1974, serving four terms until 1999. During his time in the Senate, he was known for his work on nuclear non-proliferation and government oversight.
In a stunning return to space, Glenn flew aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1998 at the age of 77, becoming the oldest person to fly in space. This mission aimed to study the effects of spaceflight on aging.
Throughout his life, Glenn received numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and six Distinguished Flying Crosses. He was also inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.
John Glenn passed away on December 8, 2016, at the age of 95. He left behind a legacy as not just a space pioneer, but as a dedicated public servant who embodied the spirit of exploration and service to his country. His life story, from small-town Ohio to the farthest reaches of space and the halls of Congress, continues to inspire generations of Americans and space enthusiasts worldwide.
