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The Best Science Writing Online 2012
Showcasing more than fifty of the most provocative, original, and significant online essays from 2011, The Best Science Writing Online 2012 will change the way...
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“This is Friendship 7. Have beautiful view of the African Coast.”
That was astronaut John Glenn reporting back to Earth from the Friendship 7 capsule on February 20th, 1962. Exactly 50 years ago.
“The horizon is a brilliant, brilliant blue.”
Minutes earlier, he had become the first American to enter orbit around the Earth, and the third person in orbit overall.*
By 1962 Glenn was already a decorated fighter pilot who flew in World War II and Korea. He later served as a U.S. Senator for almost 25 years. And in 1998, at age 77, John Glenn returned to orbit on space shuttle Discovery. He's now 90 years old and is participating in a number of NASA events to commemorate his landmark flight.
One thing Glenn learned on that first trip to orbit 50 years ago—when you're zooming along at 17,000 miles per hour, day turns to night pretty quickly.
“That was sure a short day.”
“Say again, Friendship 7.”
“That was about the shortest day I've ever run into.”
“Time passes rapidly, eh?”
“Yes Sir.”
—John Matson
[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]
[For all the audio between Glenn and ground, go to http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/history/mercury/ma-6/sounds/]
[*Correction (2/21/12): An earlier version of this podcast incorrectly stated that Glenn was the second person in orbit overall.]
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8 Comments
Add CommentLook! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! No! It's John Glenn! Seriously, I remember the day well. I was amazed that people were now traveling in space (even if we were second) and wished it were me. It did inspire me to get my pilot's license even if it was many years later. Thanks, John!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAnd fifty years later we only have one tiny manned outpost in orbit. We can do better than that.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI'm sorry, but the second human to orbit the Earth was Gherman Titov on 6 August 1961. Glenn was third.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTrue about individuals, the articles is wrong - nice catch. However, WE (as I said) as a nation were second in space.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this50 years later this has inspired more or less zip. Manned spaceflight is a 'yawn' despite the attempts of the science media to keep the myth alive.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisUnmanned space exploration through robotics and orbiting telescopes will be where the real science thrives in future.
So, climbing on board a rocket and getting blasted into space is boring to you? Wow, you must have lead an incredible life. Please, tell me what YOU have done that would even come close.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAnd "inspired more or less zip"? I think there are a lot more people out there that were inspired in some form or another than you think. Just because you're not, doesn't mean others weren't. Don't try speaking for them.
And if they ever need a 68 year old to do tests on in space? I'm your guy! I'd go in a heartbeat. How's that for inspiration?
You're absolutely right about Titov. Thanks for pointing that out -- I'll append a correction.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this2oldtocare: :"So, climbing on board a rocket and getting blasted into space is boring to you?'
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisYes, waving Shuttle astronauts are a bore. hint...hardly anyone cares.
This is 'Scientific American'....one of the top science websites in a world of seven billiuon people....there are less than 10 comments. (wow, quite the inspiration). U.S. manned spapceflight is currently dead in large part becase of complete apathy.