John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth who later became a U.S. senator for 24 years, died Wednesday, December 8, 2016 at Columbus, Ohio. He was 95 years old.
Born July 18, 1921 in Cambridge, Ohio, John Herschel Glenn, Jr. graduated from New Concord High School and later studied engineering at Muskingum College, which he quit to enlist in the U.S. Army Corps during World War II and the Korean War.
In February 20, 1962, while aboard Friendship 7 on NASA’s Mercury-Atlas 6 mission, Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth, circling the globe three times during a five-hour flight. He later became a national hero, receiving a ticker-tape parade in New York City and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal.
John Glenn resigned from NASA in 1964 and later ran as a Democrat for the U.S. Senate in Ohio. He didn’t earn a spot until 1974, and served for 25 years. In 1984, he made a bid to become the Democratic nominee for President of the United States,but withdrew during the primaries.
In October 29, 1998, while still a U.S. Senator, Glenn returned to space as a payload specialist on Discovery’s STS-95 mission, becoming the oldest person to reach space at age 77. Days prior to the flight, the main causeway to the Johnson Space center was temporarily renamed John Glenn Parkway.
“With John’s passing, our nation has lost an icon and Michelle and I have lost a friend,” President Obama said in a statement shortly after Glenn’s death. “John always had the right stuff, inspiring generations of scientists, engineers and astronauts who will take us to Mars and beyond – not just to visit, but to stay.”
President-elect Donald Trump also paid tribute to John Glenn while on his victory tour.
“Our nation mourns the passing of one of our great heroes,” Trump said in a speech at Des Moines, Iowa. “He was a giant among men, and a true American legend, who inspired generations of explorers and dreamers and we will honor his legacy by continuing to push new frontiers in science, technology and space.”
John Glenn is survived by his wife Annie, their two children, John David and Carolyn Ann, and two grandchildren.
