John Glenn was an American astronaut and senator who is best known for being one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts, his historic orbit of the Earth in 1962, and for flying in space again at age 77. He also had a distinguished career as a Marine and became a notable figure in American history.
Personal and Family Life
John Glenn was born on July 18, 1921, in Cambridge, Ohio. He married Annie Glenn on April 6, 1943, and they had two children together. Glenn had a passion for aviation, which he pursued while serving as a Marine pilot during World War II and the Korean War.
Career Highlights
Before becoming an astronaut, Glenn served as a major in the United States Marine Corps and flew many significant missions. He was selected as a part of NASA’s Mercury Seven program, becoming the first American to orbit the Earth. In 1998, at the age of 77, he became the oldest person to fly in space, setting a record for the longest time between his first and last space flight.
Death and Legacy
John Glenn passed away on December 8, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio. His contributions to space exploration and public service left a lasting legacy, and he is remembered as a pioneer in both the military and NASA. Glenn’s spacecraft, Friendship 7, is preserved at the Smithsonian Institute Air and Space Museum, celebrating his historic journey.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Conquering Space: The Moon and Beyond | 2005-01-01 | Himself – NASA Astronaut (archive footage) |
| John Glenn: American Hero | 1998-10-27 | Himself |
| John F. Kennedy: A Personal Story | 1996-11-03 | Self |
| The Real Right Stuff | 2020-11-20 | Self (archive footage) |
| Space Men | 2016-02-09 | Self (archive footage) |
| I Refuse to Kill: He Went to War with War | Self | |
| Frasier | 1993-09-16 | John Glenn |
| The Mike Douglas Show | 1961-12-11 | Self – US Senator |
| The American President | 2000-04-09 | Rutherford B. Hayes |