John Glenn (born July 18, 1921, in Cambridge, Ohio), a decorated US Marine Corps pilot, flew the first US orbital mission, completing three orbits of the Earth in his space capsule, "Friendship 7" , on February 20, 1962. He was the third American in space, following sub-orbital flights by Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom.
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.
The first American spacecraft which orbited the earth was called The Mercury Friendship 7, and the astronaut was a famous person his name was John Glenn, he was a senator for many years later.
On February 20, 1962, NASA astronaut John Glenn flew the Friendship 7 mission becoming the third American in space and the first American to orbit the Earth circling the earth three times.
Yuri Gagarin was the first human both sent to space and also to orbit the Earth.
Colonel Guion Bluford was the first black astronaut to orbit the earth; this occurred in 1983. The first black female astronaut was Dr. Mae Jemison, in 1992.
No, the Soviet Union USSR (Russia) astronaut Yuri Gregarin (sp?) was the first human to orbit earth in space. The first American in space was Alan Sheperd.
John Glenn was the first American to orbit the earth.
The Soviets, Yuri Gagarin was the first man to orbit the earth.
He was the first person to orbit the Earth.
He was the first American to orbit the earth.
Alan Sheppard
first american to orbit earth.
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Astronaut John Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth on February 20, 1962, aboard the Friendship 7 spacecraft.
John Glenn was the first American to orbit the earth. The previous US flights had been sub-orbital. Yuri Gagarin of the USSR had earlier been the first human to orbit earth.
John Glenn Jr. became the first American to orbit the earth on Febriary 20, 1962. He christened his Mercury spacecraft "Friendship 7".
John Glenn Jr. became the first American to orbit the earth on Febriary 20, 1962. He christened his Mercury spacecraft "Friendship 7".
The first American spacecraft which orbited the earth was called The Mercury Friendship 7, and the astronaut was a famous person his name was John Glenn, he was a senator for many years later.