Happy 50th Anniversary - US and John Glenn

Astronuc

Feb 20, 2012 was the 50th Anniversary of John Glenn's historic orbit of the earth. Flying then orbiting in Friendship 7 (Mercury capsule), Glenn made 2 orbits before re-entering the atmosphere.

"The MA-6 mission was launched February 20, 1962. It made three orbits of the Earth, piloted by astronaut John Glenn, who became the first American to orbit the Earth."
Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury-Atlas_6

http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/glenn50/


Seven years, five months later, on 20 July 1969, Apollo 11 crew members, Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr, landed on the Moon.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_11

dlgoff

It was an outstanding experience watching these early missions on B&W TV.

turbo

Dere wasn't no other kind of TV!

russ_watters

It irritates me that this is getting more media attention than Shepard's anniversary did.

Jimmy Snyder

I don't remember hearing anything about the anniversary of Gagarin's flight either. When Shepard flew, we went to the school auditorium to watch the entire flight. When Glenn flew, we watched the liftoff, and the recovery, but not the flight. I brought a transistor radio with me to school and between classes I kept up with the progress. I continued to to this for a few more flights, but they become too routine and took too long for me to maintain my interest.

Ivan Seeking

I was so excited I pooped my diapers.

Adyssa

I watched a bunch of documentaries and dramatisations on the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo missions quite recently, and I was awestruck with the enormity of it all, it's such a great achievement. I wish there was more interest / coverage in the space missions these days, and more space missions!

<3

dlgoff

Being in a Mercury capsule on a Atlas rocket would make me poop.

turbo

Our school had one TV in the auditorium/gym, and we would get to watch each launch, and many of the recoveries. Most kids didn't have a TV at home, and the principal/administrator tried to make sure that we got to watch "important" stuff.