Glenn

In the early morning hours of February 20th 1962 a lone rocket sat on the pad in
Florida patiently awaiting a countdown that would thrust it and its lone passenger into
the annals of, not only American history, but also Human history. Onboard Friendship
7, sitting high atop the Atlas booster rocket, in the cramped confines of the capsule
sat astronaut John H. Glenn, Jr., a young Marine test pilot from Ohio. A combat
veteran of both WW2 and Korea, fighter ace and test pilot, he now set his sights on
flying one of the most dangerous and thrilling machines ever devised by American
engineers.

Finally the countdown came to zero and this 41-year-old American, one of the older
of the amazing original seven, rocketed into the sky and history. His 4 hour, 55
minuet, 23 second flight consisted of three orbits at an altitude of 162 miles and at a
speed of 17,544 miles per hour. Other than a faulty maneuvering jet and a bad
indicator light on his heat shield, the mission was flawless. Glenn and Friendship 7
landed 800 miles southeast of Bermuda and was recovered by the destroyer USS
Noa.
His service to his fellow Americans did not stop there. Following the historic flight
Glenn served his home state of Ohio in the political arena and later served four terms
in the United States Senate. Following his retirement he once again made history by
returning to space in the space shuttle, becoming the oldest human to orbit the planet
and becoming the first person Astronaut to e-mail a sitting President (Bill Clinton)
from space.
On November 17, 2004 this 36-year-old father of one that has followed and idealized
the space program from early in life, had the opportunity of a lifetime: to personally
meet and speak with Senator John Glenn Jr. Even at the grand age of 82 he is a
commanding figure. The Museum of Discovery in the River Market District of Little
Rock had the honor of hosting Senator Glenn for an exhibit opening called “US
Presidents and Space”.

As he entered the room excitement filled the air. The room was filled to capacity with
both old and young alike as Sen. Glenn was introduced and, of course, given a
standing ovation. The Senator spoke of past Presidents and their roll in the space
program, his beginnings and his good fortune to be selected one of the magnificent
seven. Senator Glenn spoke of Eisenhower’s impressions of Sputnik, calling the
Russian satellite a flying grapefruit, he spoke of Kennedy’s faith and determination to
go to the moon, and he spoke of Clinton’s unscripted meal in the simulator in Houston,
which upset the Secret Service. The Senator spoke of new goals and what the
space program can, and should, give back to us all as we reach for the stars. And
he told great stories of his life with the love of his life, his wife Ann who was also in
attendance.
On behalf of the Central Arkansas Scale Modelers I would like to thank the Museum
of Discovery, the City of Little Rock, and of course, Senator John Glenn for an
evening that I personally will never forget.

God Speed John Glenn.