Launching a Legacy: John Glenn’s Astronaut Career
Remembering the Friendship 7
By Joan Slattery Wall
Remembering his 1962 mission as the first American to orbit Earth, Sen. John Glenn said people often have a misconception that liftoff is a tortuous moment for an astronaut. In reality, he’d describe it as gentle, with the maximum G-forces kicking in just before entering orbit.
“Once you’re up there in our steady state in the Zero G, why, it’s very comfortable,” he said on the 50th anniversary of the flight.
Making New Discoveries
On Oct. 29, 1998, Glenn, then 77, returned to space on the Discovery space shuttle’s STS-95 mission with a goal of seeking answers to the aging process.
To wrap up the 100th anniversary celebrations, we will honor Glenn’s 1974-1999 U.S. Senate career as a key component of a June program and reception in Washington, D.C. The program will feature former Sen. Bill Nelson, former administrator of NASA, who will receive the college’s annual Excellence in Public Service Award. Event registration opens in May.
A Veteran First: Reflections of a Military Hero
In our celebrations of the 100th anniversary of Sen. John Glenn’s birthday and Veterans Day, the Glenn College in November teamed up with the National Veterans Memorial and Museum for a special event in celebration of his prestigious combat career as a Marine aviator. Dean Trevor Brown joined NVMM President and CEO Lt. Gen. Michael Ferriter and Chief of Staff Col. Bill Butler for their November Rally Point, a virtual program dedicated to connecting and educating veterans, veterans’ families and those who wish to support veterans. Watch a recording of the hourlong program.