Question
Here is the question : WHO WAS THE FIRST AMERICAN TO ORBIT EARTH?
Option
Here is the option for the question :
- Bob Behnken
- John Glenn
- Buzz Aldrin
- Alan Shepard
The Answer:
And, the answer for the the question is :
Explanation:
When John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth in 1962, he quickly became a well-known figure throughout the country. During the course of his mission, he flew the Mercury Friendship 7 capsule for slightly under five hours, during which time he completed a total of three orbits of the Earth.
John Glenn was an American astronaut and military pilot who became the first American to orbit the Earth. On February 20, 1962, Glenn piloted the Friendship 7 spacecraft on a three-orbit mission around the Earth, marking a major milestone in the U.S. space program and in the broader Cold War space race between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Glenn was selected for the mission as part of NASA’s efforts to catch up to the Soviet Union in the race to put a human in orbit. The Soviet Union had already achieved this feat with the flight of Yuri Gagarin in 1961, and the United States was eager to demonstrate its own technological prowess and national pride.
The Friendship 7 spacecraft was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, atop an Atlas rocket. The mission was not without its challenges, however. During the flight, Glenn experienced several technical issues, including a malfunctioning thruster and concerns about the heat shield that protected the spacecraft during re-entry.
Glenn’s mission was a success. He orbited the Earth three times at an altitude of about 160 miles (260 kilometers), experiencing weightlessness and observing the Earth from a unique vantage point. The mission lasted just under five hours, and Glenn splashed down safely in the Atlantic Ocean, where he was recovered by a U.S. Navy ship.
Glenn’s historic flight made him an instant celebrity and a national hero. He was awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and became a symbol of American courage and determination. He went on to serve as a U.S. Senator from Ohio for more than two decades, and returned to space in 1998 as part of the STS-95 mission aboard the space shuttle Discovery.
Glenn’s legacy lives on in the continued efforts of NASA and other space agencies to explore the cosmos and push the boundaries of human knowledge and achievement. His bravery and pioneering spirit continue to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to dream big and reach for the stars.