Friendship 7

On February 20, 1962, Astronaut John H. Glenn, Jr., became the first American to orbit the Earth. With the world watching the historic and live-televised event, Glenn orbited the Earth three times in his space capsule, Friendship 7. Four hours and 55 minutes after ignition, John Glenn and Friendship 7 returned to Earth and splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean.

We're celebrating the 50th anniversary with a special video display of "Friendship 7," a film produced in 1962 by NASA that is now part of our holdings. And if you can't make to Washington, DC, you can watch this special 5-minute version.

• Category

  Education

[whatsarahsaw]

this by far was my favorite video to watch. i especially enjoyed the use of the antique video footage and voiceovers as it made the video feel more authentic, and as if i was witnessing the event first-hand. it's amazing to see how much evolution and change space exploration has undergone since 1962, thanks to the beginnings of Glenn.

[Theo Mac]

John Glenn you are a American Hero and a Hero of Mankind. John Glenn along with Abe Lincoln, Washington, Martian Luther King Jr., The Men of D-Day, Steven Jobs, The First Responders, Men & Women of the US Armed Forces and the Vets you are American's ture Heroes

[Kevin Sullivan]

The excitement of this was a world event.

I was 12 at the time.

A 12 year old now would look on this event as historical news with the same span as i would have back then to the Wright brothers 50 years earlier.