When John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth on this day in 1962, it was aboard Mercury Friendship 7, now on display in Boeing Milestones of Flight Hall at the Museum in DC. | National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution

ON THIS DAY: In 1962, astronaut John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth as he flew aboard Project Mercury’s Friendship 7. The spacecraft circled the globe three times in a flight lasting 4 hours, 55 minutes and 23 seconds before splashing down safely in the Atlantic Ocean about 200 miles northwest of Puerto Rico. https://abcnews.visitlink.me/9fWdxs | ABC News

Here is the complete newsreel video from when John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth in February 1962 http://cnn.it/2h1Q3lG | CNN International

Howard Metzenbaum challenged John Glenn during their run for state senate by stating John Glenn never held a real job. Metzenbaum goal was to make Glenn seem non-relatable to the "average workingman." By this time, John Glenn was an accomplished Marine Corps combat pilot, and the first American to orbit the earth. This video was John Glenns response. | Veteran With A Sign