John Glenn

Imagine being a super-fast pilot who gets to fly way, way up into space! That was John Glenn. He was born a long time ago, in 1921.

Before he became an astronaut, he was a brave pilot in big wars, flying planes faster than sound! He even flew across the whole United States in less time than it takes to watch your favorite cartoon. He was one of the very first people chosen to be an astronaut by NASA, which is like America's space club.

On a special day in 1962, John Glenn climbed into a tiny rocket called Friendship 7. It was like a small metal can! He blasted off and became the third American ever to go to space.

But he did something even more amazing: he was the FIRST American to orbit, or circle, the Earth! He went around our planet three whole times. Imagine looking out the window and seeing the whole world spinning below you.

Wow!

John Glenn loved flying so much that even after being a famous astronaut, he kept going. He became a politician, helping make important decisions for our country. But guess what?

When he was 77 years old, he flew into space AGAIN! He was the oldest person ever to go to space. He flew on a big spaceship called the Space Shuttle, which is much bigger than his first little rocket.

He was a true hero who loved adventure.

John Glenn showed everyone that with courage and hard work, you can do incredible things. He was a skilled pilot, a brave astronaut, and a dedicated leader. He proved that age doesn't stop you from chasing your dreams, even if your dream is to fly among the stars. He inspired lots of people to become astronauts and scientists, helping us learn more about space and our amazing planet.