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The astronaut who was one of NASA's original seven Mercury astronauts was also a four term U.S. Senator. He became a hero in 7 on Feb. 20, 1962,when his flight of friendship showed the world that America was a serious contender in the space race with the Soviet
Union.
But he did not achieve his famous feat just once.He ended up orbiting the world over a hundred times! He first circled the globe in 1962, when he went around the world three times and then plunged into the Atlantic Ocean. In a later trip, he would circle the globe another 134 times.
Incredibly, 36 years later,he embarked on a mission of almost nine days on the space shuttle orbiter Discovery.It was launched Oct. 29, 1998, when he was a mere 77 years old!He became the oldest human to venture into space. Born John Herschel Glenn Jr. in July 18, 1921, in Cambridge, Ohio. He attended primary and secondary schools in New Concord, Ohio. He received a bachelor of science degree in engineering from Muskingum College in New Concord.
Speaking of his amazing feat of 1962,when he left the retrorocket pack in place to steady the heat shield during re-entry,he said: "It made for a very spectacular re-entry from where I was sitting," he said. Big chunks of the burning material came flying by the window.
He wasn't sure whether the flaming debris was the rocket pack or the heat shield breaking up. "Fortunately," he told an interviewer," it was the rocket pack -- or I wouldn't be answering these questions."
The man was a one off.For instance,did you know that he flew 149 combat missions in WW 2 and the Korean War?His plane was hit by enemy fire 12 different times.
As a mark of honor,at least five high school's bear his name, including the former New Concord (Ohio) High School, where he graduated in 1939.
It shows what a crazy world we live in when Donald Trump becomes president and a man like Glenn does not.Our hero who served 24 years as a U.S. senator from Ohio, made a run for president of the United States in 1984.He gave up his bid when his campaign failed to gain steam.Has any man ever more deserved to be president than this man?
Like i said earlier,the man was unreal.In 1989,he was puncked on live tv by an attacker.But have no fear,our hero subdued him.The attacker who was a 31-year-old Michael John Breen, later said he punched Glenn because he wanted to bring attention to dreams he had about future events, which included a massive earthquake.The world is indeed full of crazy nutters.
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| With his wife Annie and his children. |
Here are some of his most famous quotes below...
1-As I hurtled through space, one thought kept crossing my mind - every part of this rocket was supplied by the lowest bidder.
2-If there is one thing I’ve learned in my years on this planet, it’s that the happiest and most fulfilled people I’ve known are those who devoted themselves to something bigger and more profound than merely their own self interest.
3-When others kid me about being bald, I simply tell them that the way I figure it, the good Lord only gave men so many hormones, and if others want to waste theirs on growing hair, that's up to them.(This is one of my favourites,he obviously mocks those who make the most flimsy things important.)
4-Too many people, when they get old, think that they have to live by the calendar.
He is survived by his wife of many years Annie and two children, Carolyn Ann "Lyn" and John David.
John Glenn cause of death is suspected to have been cancer as he was said to have been receiving treatment at James Cancer Hospital,but there is no official confirmation of this.
Rest in peace great man.