- Included in the Anniversaries List.
- Fifty years ago today, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth. We all huddled around small black-and-white TV sets watching.

Martin Winfree
February 20, 2012
Fifty years ago today, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth. Well I remember huddling around small black-and-white TV sets that I guess teachers brought to class so that we could all share the historic achievement. I was equally excited about the earlier suborbital flights by Alan Shepard and Gus Grissom. What a time that was!

