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John Glenn's trip came
10 months after a Russian circled the
Earth |
1962: American spaceman rounds the
world |
England have
The first American to orbit the Earth has landed safely in the Atlantic
Ocean.
Marine Lieutenant John Glenn, 40, travelled about 81,000 miles (more
than 130,000km) as he circled the globe three times at more than 17,000
mph (27,000kph).
Colonel Glenn controlled nearly two of the orbits himself after
reporting "minor difficulties" with the automatic altitude control system
as he completed the third circuit - the maximum anticipated.
Messages from the astronaut were transmitted by radio stations across
the United States and United Kingdom and his progress was monitored by 18
ground stations around the world.
As he re-entered the atmosphere after his four-hour and 56-minute
journey Colonel Glenn said: "Boy, that was a real fireball."
His spacecraft, Friendship Seven, landed at 2040 GMT 240 miles
north-west of Puerto Rico, where it was picked up by the US destroyer Noa.
Altogether, 24 American ships were ready to pick up the astronaut and
his craft from various locations across the globe.
The capsule was launched from the flaming Atlas rocket at 1447 GMT from
Cape Canaveral, Florida.
President Kennedy followed the mission on television and telephoned the
astronaut afterwards.
"We are really proud of you. You did a wonderful job," he said.
The Queen and British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, also cabled
their congratulations.
Technical problems had delayed the mission 10 times - a total of 61
days.
The US has spent over ?42m on the man-in-space programme so far and
Nasa has planned another three manned orbital flights this year.
The US Earth orbit took place 10 months and 10 days after Soviet
cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space, making one
circulation of the globe.