When he became the first American to orbit the Earth, John Glenn gave the United States a boost in the space race, making him one of the most famous Americans alive.
(Inside Science) — Sixty years ago this Sunday, on Feb. 20, 1962, American astronaut John Glenn took off from Cape Canaveral on Florida’s eastern coast on a mission that marked a turning point in the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union.
During the four hours and 55 minutes between launch and splashdown, Glenn orbited the Earth three times. His achievement accelerated the U.S.’s push to put …
