Fifty years ago today, astronaut John Glenn made history by boarding a Mercury space capsule and becoming the first American to orbit the earth. The Friendship 7 made three orbits around the earth in a little less than five hours and was moving at speeds around 17,000 miles per hour (top that, Doc Brown). As if that wasn’t a fever-inducing dose of awesome, due to a problem with the yaw attitude jet that controlled the module’s heading, Glenn had to manually pilot the ship during the second and third orbits.
@glennschool, the official Twitter account of the John Glenn School of Public Affairs, is live-tweeting the event retroactively today, recounting the events of the lift-off as they really happened minute-by-minute this morning fifty years ago. For those interested, you can follow the hashtag #GlenninSpace for updates. Here’s how the lift-off has looked so far:
@glennschool
John Glenn School5 minutes to launch. #GlenninSpace
33 minutes ago via TweetDeck · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@glennschool
John Glenn School[PHOTO]: Godspeed, John Glenn – 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0. http://t.co/fmiujpiB #GlenninSpace #Glenn50 27 minutes ago via web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@glennschool
John Glenn SchoolJettison tower is green. Auto Retrojettison is off; Emergency Retrojettison Fuse switch, off; Retrojettison Fuse switch, off. #GlenninSpace 25 minutes ago via TweetDeck · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@glennschool
John Glenn SchoolZero-g and I feel fine. Capsule is turning around. Oh, that view is tremendous! #GlenninSpace 23 minutes ago via TweetDeck · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@glennschool
John Glenn SchoolRoger, Seven. You have a go, at least 7 orbits. Glenn: Roger. Understand Go for at least 7 orbits. #GlenninSpace 23 minutes ago via TweetDeck · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@glennschool
John Glenn SchoolThis is Friendship Seven. Can see clear back; a big cloud pattern way back across toward the Cape. Beautiful sight. #GlenninSpace 23 minutes ago via TweetDeck · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@glennschool
John Glenn SchoolThe horizon is a brilliant, a brilliant blue. I have the mainland in sight at present time coming up on the scope. #GlenninSpace 11 minutes ago via TweetDeck · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
Fifty years later, and even on Twitter, it’s nearly impossible to read the communication between Glenn and Cape Canaveral and not become overwhelmed with the chill of excitement. The retroactive live-tweets will continue today through 3PM.
In case you overlooked it in the tweets from @glennschool, here’s the original NASA footage of Glenn leaving earth for bluer skies (if you wanna get to the meat of it, skip to around the 25 minute mark for the countdown):
Throughout the morning, “John Glenn” was trending on Twitter in the United States as people expressed their awe and admiration of Glenn as well as sharing their favorite links and memories about the mission.
@NASA
NASAToday’s the 50th anniversary of American Hero John Glenn’s spaceflight. But who’s your hero if you’re John Glenn? http://t.co/aixl6NVm 2 hours ago via CoTweet · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@AngryBirds
Angry BirdsBefore Angry Birds Space, we had John Glenn: http://t.co/dYb9WuFL – happy 50th anniversary, John! cc @NASA 1 hour ago via CoTweet · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@airandspaceCOMM
airandspaceCOMMJohn Glenn peers inside his Mercury Friendship 7 space capsule http://t.co/nnMTe9Ib via @washingtonpost 1 hour ago via bitly · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@ourhonordefend
VicoFavorite John Glenn story is still him at a Wendy Kopp talk in ’02. He and his wife were invited on stage. He hopped the steps to the stage. 3 minutes ago via web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@timstahmer
Tim StahmerToday is 50th anniversary of John Glenn’s earth orbit flight http://t.co/JRKb8JmV We don’t do bold things like that any more. 3 minutes ago via Twitter for Mac · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@ourhonordefend
VicoJohn Glenn should get more credit for winning the Cold War. “Don’t make us send John Glenn over there” was a more credible threat than M.A.D 2 minutes ago via web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@MyMoonLPI
MyMoonLook at what John Glenn went through 50 years ago today to be the first American to launch into space! Would you… http://t.co/cZ6Bpun1 36 minutes ago via Facebook · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@cosmos4u
Daniel FischerThis very MINUTE exactly 50 years ago John Glenn lifted off: http://t.co/M5mHVlLn, http://t.co/Vh50b2Ii, http://t.co/tgzuCV7p. 37 minutes ago via Mobile Web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@neiltyson
Neil deGrasse TysonFeb 20, 1962: USA launches John Glenn into orbit. He followed Russian Dogs, GuineaPigs, Mice, a cosmonaut & an American chimp 36 minutes ago via TweetDeck · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@LEEFUCHEN
LEEFUCHENJohn Glenn and His Historic Space Flight — 50 Years Later: Why a very short space flight still matters today http://t.co/Ps8zsVj1 37 minutes ago via twitterfeed · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@BrentGooden
Brent GoodenJohn Glenn is a true American hero. Followed the Mercury program and cheered for all of them as a kid. NASA always sent great stuff. 38 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@varite
Heather WillsNot only do I get to share my bday with #PresidentsDay, it’s also John Glenn Friendship 7 Day! Read more here- https://t.co/td10b8kf 39 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@4yoursonly
4yoursonly@TomDignanSr I’ll never forget that wild ride by John Glenn. Saw Friendship7 in Houston. Tiny little thing. Must have been claustrophobic. 36 minutes ago via web · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
@DavidPepper
David Pepper50 years ago this minute, John Glenn, from Cambridge OH, blasted off in Friendship 7. Thanks to him and Annie for inspiring our country. 36 minutes ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® · Reply · Retweet · Favorite · powered by @socialditto
As a footnote, if you really want to feel the goosebumps as you read about John Glenn this morning and afternoon, go listen to Peter Schilling’s ‘Major Tom (Coming Home)‘ as you read those @glennschool tweets and watch the NASA footage. It’s an exquisite combination.