Friday, December 9, 2016

Legendary American Astronaut John Glenn Dead at 95

Legendary American Astronaut John Glenn Dead at 95
John Herschel Glenn Jr. (July 18, 1921 – December 8, 2016)

John H. Glenn Jr, the first American to orbit the Earth passed away in Columbus, Ohio on December 8, 2016 at the age 95. America has lost one of its greatest pioneers.

Glenn was an aviator, engineer at NASA, astronaut, politician, and recipient of the Congressional Space Medal of Honor. He was an officer in the US Marine Corps and a war hero who served his country as a fighter pilot in the Pacific during WWII and during the Korean War. 

In 1962 he became the first American to orbit the Earth. he flew the Friendship 7 mission and was also a backup pilot to Alan Shepard and Gus Grissom, on the Freedom 7 and Liberty Bell 7 respectively.

In 1974 he won elections for the US Senate and became a congressman representing the State of Ohio for a quarter of a century.

A legend and a true here, he will be missed by many.

Godspeed, John Glenn!