Glenn becomes first American to orbit earth 50 years ago this hour (1962)

1960s, space exploration


Video: Glenn completes first orbit (at 8:26)

(Tuesday, February 20, 1962, 2:20 p.m. EST) — John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth today, making three orbits in 4 hours, 55 minutes while aboard Friendship 7.

Glenn was launched from Cape Canaveral aboard Friendship 7 at 9:47 a.m. local time and attained orbit 12 minutes later. After three circuits of the Earth, Glenn left orbit at 2:20 p.m., landed in the Atlantic Ocean at 2:43, and was recovered by the destroyer U.S.S. Noa at 3:04.