John+Glenn+Orbits+the+Earth+(g1)

= John Glenn Orbits the Earth =

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Overview[[image:http://davidszondy.com/future/Living/john_glenn.jpg width="151" height="114" align="right" caption="Glenn in Friendship 7" link="http://davidszondy.com/future/Living/john_glenn.jpg"]]
February 20, 1962, a man orbited the Earth. His name was John Glenn. He was to orbit the earth and record his observations, and return home. The fight over discovering space first was a great race with the United States and Russia. They had to choose the right guy. He had plenty of experience, training for this moment with NASA for years. He was also the third man in space ever. He was the oldest man in his space group, and he was chosen.

Main Point[[image:http://www.dailyhistory.net/images/john-glenn-friendship-7.jpg width="146" height="160" align="right" link="http://www.dailyhistory.net/images/john-glenn-friendship-7.jpg"]]
The launch took place at Cape Canaveral on the Friendship 7 spacecraft. It was 9 ½ by 6 foot craft, said to be compared to a Volkswagen Beetle. It launched at 9:47 AM with a force of 350,00 pounds of thrust, and liftoff. Orbiting the earth, Glenn saw everything in a different perspective; sunsets, clouds and oceans. Glenn orbited the earth in four hours and fifty-six minutes. He reached speeds up to 17,000 miles per hour.

Conclusion/ Historical Significance
Glenn landed in the Atlantic Ocean, 800 miles southeast of Bermuda. President John F. Kennedy awarded him with the Space Congressional Medal of Honor. He became a hero. Schools and streets are now named after him. His successful mission into space launched a huge chain of endeavors into space. His adventure is just another thumbs up tally in the American race for space. == ==

News articles
St. Petersburg Times The Free- Lance Star