Remembering John Glenn: See Footage of His Legendary First Orbit of the Earth | National Geographic

into the soft light of this Florida Don

into the soft light of this Florida Don emerges friendship 7 making its debut to

emerges friendship 7 making its debut to

emerges friendship 7 making its debut to the day of its destiny

the mercury Atlas stands long waiting to

the mercury Atlas stands long waiting to depart this earth a quarter of a million

depart this earth a quarter of a million

depart this earth a quarter of a million pounds of rocket with thrust equal to

pounds of rocket with thrust equal to

pounds of rocket with thrust equal to three and a half million horsepower all

three and a half million horsepower all

three and a half million horsepower all two hurdle 168 pound astronaut into

two hurdle 168 pound astronaut into

two hurdle 168 pound astronaut into space

astronaut John Glenn of New Concord Ohio

astronaut John Glenn of New Concord Ohio lieutenant colonel United States Marine

lieutenant colonel United States Marine

lieutenant colonel United States Marine Corps married father of two teenage

Corps married father of two teenage

Corps married father of two teenage children Glenn has been a pilot over

children Glenn has been a pilot over

children Glenn has been a pilot over half of his 40 years has flown in two

half of his 40 years has flown in two

half of his 40 years has flown in two wars and as a veteran test pilot who

wars and as a veteran test pilot who

wars and as a veteran test pilot who five years earlier established a

five years earlier established a

five years earlier established a transcontinental flight record as the

transcontinental flight record as the

transcontinental flight record as the first man to average supersonic speeds

first man to average supersonic speeds

first man to average supersonic speeds across America he volunteered for space

across America he volunteered for space

across America he volunteered for space flight is one of seven astronauts

flight is one of seven astronauts

flight is one of seven astronauts selected for Project Mercury the man and

selected for Project Mercury the man and

selected for Project Mercury the man and space program directed by the National

space program directed by the National

space program directed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Aeronautics and Space Administration

Aeronautics and Space Administration never in all of history have so many

never in all of history have so many

never in all of history have so many people shared an adventure of such

people shared an adventure of such

people shared an adventure of such magnitude the time nears and soon this

magnitude the time nears and soon this

magnitude the time nears and soon this earth path indicator in the capsule will

earth path indicator in the capsule will

earth path indicator in the capsule will begin showing John Glenn his changing

begin showing John Glenn his changing

begin showing John Glenn his changing positions above the world ladies check

positions above the world ladies check

positions above the world ladies check pressurization locks taking now a

pressurization locks taking now a

pressurization locks taking now a blinking high-level light you are gold

blinking high-level light you are gold

blinking high-level light you are gold order systems girl range operations

order systems girl range operations

order systems girl range operations castle go all pre start power lights are

castle go all pre start power lights are

castle go all pre start power lights are correct the ready light is on he checked

correct the ready light is on he checked

correct the ready light is on he checked with the umbilical I’ll evacuate portree

with the umbilical I’ll evacuate portree

with the umbilical I’ll evacuate portree umbilical clear mercury is no it lights

umbilical clear mercury is no it lights

umbilical clear mercury is no it lights on all recorders to fast D minus 18

on all recorders to fast D minus 18

on all recorders to fast D minus 18 seconds and counting engine start

seconds and counting engine start

seconds and counting engine start hey the we will see Ricky from oh good

hey the we will see Ricky from oh good

hey the we will see Ricky from oh good lord ride all the ways you’ve got speed

lord ride all the ways you’ve got speed

lord ride all the ways you’ve got speed John Glenn ten nine eight seven

John Glenn ten nine eight seven

John Glenn ten nine eight seven [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

your backup clock is started one oxygen

your backup clock is started one oxygen 78

[Applause]

[Applause] seventy seconds leaving a nice paper

seventy seconds leaving a nice paper

seventy seconds leaving a nice paper trail now looks real fine tape is going

trail now looks real fine tape is going

trail now looks real fine tape is going I am go dancer is in good shape all

I am go dancer is in good shape all

I am go dancer is in good shape all systems are go Seco sustainer engine

systems are go Seco sustainer engine

systems are go Seco sustainer engine cutoff the moment when the final Atlas

cutoff the moment when the final Atlas

cutoff the moment when the final Atlas engine will shut down when friendship

engine will shut down when friendship

engine will shut down when friendship seven should separate from the booster

seven should separate from the booster

seven should separate from the booster rocket and begin orbital flight go

rocket and begin orbital flight go

rocket and begin orbital flight go classic rates fired okay

Rogers zero-g and I feel fine capsule is

Rogers zero-g and I feel fine capsule is turning around oh that view is

turning around oh that view is

turning around oh that view is tremendous

tremendous

tremendous [Music]

to John Glenn now belongs an awesome

to John Glenn now belongs an awesome panorama the world curving beneath him

panorama the world curving beneath him

panorama the world curving beneath him just as it was filmed from an earlier

just as it was filmed from an earlier

just as it was filmed from an earlier mercury capsule you have a go at least

mercury capsule you have a go at least

mercury capsule you have a go at least seven orbits understand for at least

seven orbits understand for at least

seven orbits understand for at least seven orbits clear back up big crowd

seven orbits clear back up big crowd

seven orbits clear back up big crowd water way back across toward the Cape

water way back across toward the Cape

water way back across toward the Cape beautiful sight

beautiful sight

beautiful sight [Music]