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[Music] [Applause] [Music] February 20th 1962 dawn at Cape Canaveral dawn of Colonel John Glenn's day of Destiny everything is in readiness on pad 14 supported by the gantry the mercury capsule rests atop the Atlas missile as the countdown in the blockhouse precedes these men are but part of the team of 15,000 men back of the astronauts flight a team that will follow Glenn's every moment it's five hours before blast off as he squeezes into his space suit his wide grin belies the 10 postponements of his flight that have kept him grounded finishing touches are made on the 40-year old man's spacesuit and there's an air of optimism a feeling that this truly is the day [Music] carrying is now-familiar portable air conditioner he prepares to go to the 11th deck of the country the Clarks point to 6:00 a.m. the skies are beginning to lighten and the cool north wind rustles across the Cape Colonel Glen's date with destiny comes ten months after the Russians claimed an orbital flight by Yuri Gagarin and less than a year after Alan Shepard blazed a suborbital trail for the u.s. this is the climax of three years of training this is the moment that the eyes of the world turned to Cape Canaveral the Russian orbits were in a thick fog of secrecy every step the United States makes is in the white-hot layer of worldwide publicity [Music] in the capsule atop the Atlas missile the colonel will be strapped to a contoured couch once in flight the mercury will be tilted so that the astronaut will ride backwards the seconds tick off his rendezvous with destiny millions are moved to silent prayer [Music] everything is gold to take off of the Atlas blasted aloft by three hundred and sixty thousand pounds of thrust is perfect Glen is subject to six times the force of gravity in friendship seven but he reports back calmly to Commander Alan Shepard below vibration area coming up here Roger reading aloud and query on it all Roger we confirm on Pierre pal Edison tower is green Roger [Music] [Applause] [Applause] he speeds at 17,500 miles an hour as he reaches a high point of 160 miles and a low altitude of 99 miles each orbit on the 81 thousand mile trip takes about 90 minutes three times the colonel sees a sunrise and when he enters the atmosphere once more a shield protects the astronaut from the 3,000 degree heat the command ship in the target area the Randolph follows the course of Colonel Glenn's descent and alerts other pickup vessels as the mercury speeds to a landing the drogue chute opens to correct any spin and then a larger chute pulls out to ease the friendship 7 to the C 4 hours and 56 minutes after takeoff Colonel Glen returns to earth right at hand is the destroyer Noah and she speeds to the capsule to take the vehicle and pilot aboard the flight is a success beyond the wildest dreams of the scientists and technicians involved the end of a saga with support cables attached a pincer like crane lifts the friendship seven aboard the triumph of the US Space team the climax of three years of work and planning as the friendship seven has eased aboard the destroyer with Glen's still inside the crew attempts to open the upper exit but then blow the escape hatch so that he may leave the capsule immediately the Marine landed situation go Colonel John each Glen jr. left his footprints among the stars he has a grin that is as wide as the path he blazed as he rests briefly before being transferred to the carrier he's lifted aboard in a maneuver that looks more dangerous than the flight itself the helicopter takes them to the carrier for a debriefing and examinations by medical men before he takes two days rats on an island in the Bahamas the helicopter no sooner touches down on deck then Glenn gets a preview of the congratulations that are still to come on every hand there is jubilation on every side smiles and cheers he signs over his precious log to the National Space Administration data that holds secrets of outer space now arrest before the deluge the deluge of honors a proud country waits to bestow the return of a conquering hero all missed the man of the hour and into the arms of his waiting wife for a warm moment before he is claimed by cheering thousands first honors for Colonel Glenn the president presents the distinguished service medal of the space administration to the nation's space pioneer then on to Washington where a steady drizzle can't put a damper on the reception for the nation's new star from outer space he rides from the White House to the Capitol as more than a quarter of a million hail the man and his achievement both the galleries and the floor are jammed to capacity as the colonel arrives to a standing ovation with a modesty that befits a man of awesome deeds he has this to say we are all proud to have been privileged to be part of this effort to represent our country as we have as our knowledge of this universe in which we live increases may God grant us the wisdom and guidance to use it wisely Colonel John Glenn jr. the first American in orbit [Music]