Why is John Glenn so important?

Answer 1

John Glenn's SignificanceJohn Herschel Glenn Jr. (born July 18, 1921, in Cambridge, Ohio) is a former American astronaut, Marine Corps fighter pilot, and politician. He was the third American to fly around the earth in space. He was the first American and second person to orbit the earth. Later he served as a United States Senator from Ohio (1974 - 1999).

In 1998 he returned to space at the age of 77 on the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-95), becoming the oldest man ever to go in space. This was an 'experiment' to test the effects of going into space on an aging person. (It had been discovered that going into space showed signs of premature aging).

Answer 2

John Glenn is important because he was the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962 as part of the Mercury Seven program. He also served as a United States Senator for 24 years and went back to space in 1998 at the age of 77, becoming the oldest person to fly in space. Glenn's contributions to space exploration and public service have made him a revered figure in American history.