On February 20, 1962, citizens of the United States and around the world held their breath then released a collective sign of relief and joy. Just before 10 o’clock in the morning that day America’s infant space agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration or NASA, successfully launched a manned spacecraft into orbit around Earth. After three complete orbits in a mission lasting close to five hours, the NASA spacecraft safely reentered the atmosphere and splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean where the U.S. Navy recovered it without incident.

By completing this spaceflight the United States equaled a technological feat achieved by its Cold War rival, the Soviet Union, during the previous year. With the success of the mission NASA reached parity in the Space Race and did much to calm public fears about the supremacy of Soviet technology. NASA also took an important step toward the goal President John F. Kennedy announced in the following year of placing a man on the moon by the end of the decade.

John H. Glenn, Jr., the astronaut who flew NASA’s mission Mercury/Atlas 6, came back to Earth an instant national hero. Countries around the world hailed Glenn for the daring achievement he accomplished in the spacecraft he named Friendship 7. The success of the Friendship 7 spaceflight launched NASA toward the decades of space exploration and research it continues today. The mission also launched John Glenn toward decades of further achievements, most notably in the world of public service as a four-term member of the United States Senate.