THE TYPE OF AMERICAN OF WHOM WE ARE MOST PROUD

JFK+50:  Volume 7, No. 2154

JOHN GLENN: AMERICA'S FIRST MAN IN ORBIT DIES AT AGE 95

Columbus, Ohio (JFK+50) John Glenn*, the first American to orbit the Earth and four-term United States Senator from Ohio died yesterday at the Ohio State Cancer Center here in Columbus at the age of 95.

On February 20, 1962, Glenn lifted off aboard the Friendship 7 Mercury space capsule at 9:47 a.m. Eastern time with 100,000 people watching on the ground and millions on television.

While his three orbits were not without some technical issues, the Friendship 7 re-entered the earth's atmosphere and splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean where it was retrieved by a helicopter from the USS Noa.  The flight lasted almost five hours.  John Faherty of the Cincinnati Enquirer says that the five hour flight "changed the space race and restored American pride.*"

Fellow astronaut Scott Carpenter wrote...

"The flight was a monumental triumph for NASA and the United States.  It served notice to the Soviets that we were in this competition for the long haul, and that we were breathing down their necks....and it created a new and national hero, whose image and charisma made anything he imagined possible."


President Kennedy watched the live television coverage of the flight of John Glenn at the White House and after the flight ended successfully said that John Glenn was...

"the type of American of whom we are most proud."***

After John Glenn left the Senate, he returned to space at the age of 77.  His mission on board the Space Shuttle Discovery in October 1998 made him the oldest person ever to travel in outer space.


*John Herschel Glenn, Jr. (1921-2016) was born in Cambridge & raised in New Concord, Ohio.  He studied engineering at Muskingum College & served in the USMC in WWII.  JHG flew combat missions over the Marshall Islands and 63 combat missions in the Korean War.  He graduated from the US Naval Test Pilot School in 1954 & was selected as one of the 1st 7 astronauts by NASA in 1959.

**The Soviet Union had led the space race since the launch of the first man-made earth satellite Sputnik, and had enhanced their lead with the success of the first manned orbital flight of cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.

***JFK visited Cape Canaveral, Florida on February 23 and he pinned a medal on John Glenn.

SOURCES

"Astronaut, senator dead at 95, First American to orbit Earth never hesitated to serve his country," by John Faherty, The Cincinnati Enquirer, USA Today, December 9, 2016.

"Back In Orbit, John Glenn's Return to Space" by Scott Montgomery and Timothy R. Gaffney, Longstreet Press, Atlanta, Georgia, 1998.

JFK, John Glenn & General Leighton I. Davis

NASA Photo (1962)

John Glenn and Friendship 7

NASA Photo

John Glenn and JFK

Manned Spacecraft Center

Cape Canaveral, Florida

February 23, 1962

NASA Photographs

WHO WAS THE 2ND AMERICAN TO ORBIT THE EARTH?

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 1959

AURORA 7 OVERSHOOTS LANDING TARGET AFTER 3 EARTH ORBITS

Cape Canaveral, Florida (JFK+50) Most Americans know that John Glenn was the first American astronaut to orbit the earth, but they probably could not tell you who made the second orbital flight.

Fifty-four years ago today, May 24, 1962, Scott Carpenter* splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean after three successful earth orbits, becoming the second American to orbit the planet.  He also was the first astronaut to eat solid food in space.

Unfortunately, however, the end of Carpenter's mission did not go as planned. His Aurora 7 spacecraft splashed down 250 miles away from his scheduled landing point.

After spending almost five hours in space, the astronaut then had to wait three more hours for Navy personnel to get in a position to retrieve him.  He was found bobbing up and down in his life raft beside his space capsule.

*Malcolm Scott Carpenter (1925-2013), one of the original seven Mercury astronauts, was born in Boulder, Colorado and graduated from the University of Colorado in 1962.  MSC became a US Navy pilot and served in the Korean War.

MSC served in the Sea Lab program for the US Navy & resigned from NASA in 1967.

MSC died in hospice care in Denver on October 10, 2013, 50 years to the day after President John F. Kennedy presented the Collier Trophy to the Mercury 7 at the White House.


SOURCE

"Scott Carpenter, Mercury astronaut, dead at 88," by William Harwood, www.cbsnews.com

Malcolm Scott Carpenter

NASA Photo (1964)

Carpenter in Recovery Training

NASA Photo (July 1962)

         

"GOD SPEED JOHN GLENN"

JOHN GLENN BECOMES FIRST AMERICAN IN ORBIT

Cape Canaveral, Florida (JFK+50) 53 years ago today, February 20, 1962, the United States put its' first astronaut into earth orbit.

Lt.Col. John Glenn (USMC), lifted off successfully aboard the Friendship 7 Mercury space capsule at 9:47 a.m. eastern time with 100,000 people watching on the ground and millions on television.

John Glenn, no stranger to putting his life on the line in the air, had flown 150 combat missions in WW II and the Korean War.

John Glenn Signed Bomber Jacket

Dr. Les Cunningham Collection

Campbell, Cunningham & Taylor

Knoxville, Tennessee

Photo by John White (2015)

While his 3 orbits around the globe were not without some technical issues, the Friendship 7 reentered the earth's atmosphere and splashed down safely in the Atlantic Ocean where it was retrieved by a helicopter from the USS Noa.

The flight lasted almost 5 hours. 

John Glenn became the third man to orbit the earth.  The first was Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin followed by his fellow cosmonaut Gherman Titov.

Glenn is also the 3rd American astronaut to fly in space.  He follows fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard & Virgil "Gus" Grissom.

The success of putting a man in orbit represented a huge step toward achieving President John F. Kennedy's goal of "landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth" by the end of the decade.

The President visited Cape Canaveral on February 23, 1962 to pin a medal on John Glenn who later addressed congress and was given a ticker tape parade.

KICK BORN 95 YEARS AGO TODAY

Brookline, Massachusetts (JFK+50) Kathleen Agnes 'Kick' Kennedy, the younger sister of future President John F. Kennedy, was born 94 years ago today, February 20, 1920, here in Brookline. a suburb of Boston.

Kathleen was the second daughter and fourth child of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. and was called 'Kick' by everyone except her mother.  She attended Noroton Convent of the Sacred Heart in Greenwich, Connecticut and the Hold Child Convent in Neuilly, France.

Kick was a London debutante in May 1938 when Joe Sr. was Ambassador to Great Britain and became a Red Cross volunteer during World War II.

Kathleen Kennedy

London, England

JFK Library Photo (1943)

Kick, against the wishes of her mother Rose, married William Cavendish, the Marquess of Hartington, on May 6, 1944. Kick's husband was killed in the war on September 10, 1944.

Kathleen Kennedy died in an airplane crash in France on May 13, 1948. 

SOURCES

"Kathleen Kennedy: Her Life and Times," by Lynne McTaggart, Holt Rinehart & Winston, New York, 1983.

"The Kennedy Curse," by Edward Klein, St. Martin's Press, New York, 2003.

JFK+50 TOP TEN POSTS #9

JFK+50 TOP POST #9

Knoxville, Tennessee (JFK+50) Today we continue a review of the ten most popular posts of our JFK+50 blog since we began in November 2010.  This review will include updates and revisions of the original posts. 

Thanks to all our visitors worldwide.

"GOD SPEED, JOHN GLENN"

February 20, 2011, Cape Canaveral, Florida (JFK+50) With these words, United States astronaut, Lt.Col. John Glenn* of the United States Marine Corps, lifted off from the Space Center here at Cape Canaveral 49 years ago today to become America's first man to orbit the earth.

Colonel Glenn lifted off successfully aboard the Friendship 7 Mercury space capsule at 9:47 a.m. eastern time with 100,000 people watching on the ground and millions more on television.

Lt. Col. John Glenn

Friendship 7

NASA Photo

While his three orbits around the globe were not without some technical issues, Friendship 7 reentered the earth's atmosphere successfully and splashed down safely in the Atlantic Ocean where it was retrieved by a helicopter from the USS Noa.The flight lasted almost five hours. 

John Glenn became the third man to orbit the earth.  The first was Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin followed by his fellow cosmonaut Gherman Titov.

Glenn was also the third American astronaut to fly in space.  He followed fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom.

Launch of Friendship 7

February 20, 1962

Cape Canaveral, Florida

NASA Photo

The success of putting a man in orbit was a great step toward achieving President Kennedy's goal, set in 1961, of "landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth" by the end of the decade.

The President visited Cape Canaveral on February 23, 1962 to pin a medal on John Glenn who later addressed Congress and was given a ticker tape parade.

JFK's Visit to Cape Canaveral

February 23, 1962

NASA Photographs

*John Glenn was born on July 18, 1921 in Cambridge, Ohio.  He served in US Naval Aviation during WWII and transferred to the USMC where he flew 59 combat missions.  JG also logged 27 missions during the Korean Conflict.

After his entry into the space program and his successful orbital flight in 1962, Colonel Glenn became a personal friend of JFK and the Kennedy family. He retired from the military in 1965 and later served in the United States Senate for 24 years.  In 1998, Col. Glenn joined the shuttle crew and became the oldest person, at age 77, to fly in space.

In addition to many other awards, Col. Glenn was a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal.

JOHN GLENN

February 20, 1962


"GOD SPEED JOHN GLENN"

With these words, US astronaut, Lt.Col. John Glenn (USMC), lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida to become America's 1st man to orbit the earth.


Glenn lifted off successfully aboard the Friendship 7 Mercury space capsule at 9:47 a.m. eastern time with 100,000 people watching on the ground & millions on television.

John Glenn is a man who has a history of bravery & service.  He has flown 150 combat missions in WW II & the Korean War.


While his 3 orbits around the globe were not without some technical issues, the Friendship 7 reentered the earth's atmosphere & splashed down safely in the Atlantic where it was retrieved by a helicopter from the USS Noa.


The flight lasted almost 5 hours. 


John Glenn becomes the 3rd man to have orbited the earth.  The 1st was Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin followed by his fellow cosmonaut Gherman Titov.


Glenn is also the 3rd American astronaut to fly in space.  He follows fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard & Virgil "Gus" Grissom.


The success of putting a man in orbit represents a huge step toward achieving President Kennedy's goal, set last year, of "landing a man on the moon & returning him safely to the earth" by the end of the decade.*


*JFK visits Cape Canaveral on February 23 to pin a medal on John Glenn who later addresses congress & is given a ticker tape parade.

February 20, 1920


KATHLEEN KENNEDY BORN IN BROOKLINE


Mr. & Mrs. Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. announced today the birth of their 1st daughter, Kathleen.


She is welcomed by brothers Joseph P.  (Joe) Kennedy, Jr. & John F. (Jack) Kennedy.*

*Kathleen will be nicknamed "Kick" & will have a close bond with her older brothers. 


When her dad becomes ambassador to Britain, she spends more than a year in London, returning in 1943 to serve in the American Red Cross.   

Joe, Jr., Kick & Jack in London


Kick was known for her beauty & vivacious spirit. She married William Cavendish, Marquis of Hartington, in 1944 but he was to be killed in the war a few months later. 


Lady Hartington died in an air crash in France on May 13, 1948 & is buried in Chatsworth, England.


February 20, 1862


PRESIDENT'S SON, WILLIE, IS DEAD


Willie Lincoln, the 3rd son of President Abraham & Mary Todd Lincoln, died today at the White House having been stricken by typhoid fever just 2 weeks ago.  


A typhoid epidemic has existed in the nation's capital for some time.


Willie was pronounced dead at 5 o'clock this evening & the body was placed in the Green Room.


The President sadly commented:


"My poor boy.  He was too good for this earth......It is so hard to have him die."


Mrs. Lincoln, who is reported to be taking the death of her son with great difficulty, was not available for comment.*


*Willie will be buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Georgetown but after his father's death in 1865 the remains are transferred to Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois.

February 20, 1985


IRISH PARLIAMENT APPROVES BIRTH CONTROL


The parliament of Ireland today approved the sale of contraceptives. 


This action follows the 1973 decision of the Irish Supreme Court to approve the use of contraceptives as a matter of "marital privacy" & the 1980 Health Act which allows them to be sold to those with prescriptions.*


*This is the 1st time the Catholic Church has lost a battle with the government of Ireland.