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U.S. Civil Service Mariner Seaman Cyrus Amparo applies primer to elevator shocks on the main deck of the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE 8) in the western Pacific.

U.S. Civil Service Mariner Seaman Cyrus Amparo applies primer to elev...

PACIFIC OCEAN (Mar. 03, 2018) U.S. Civil Service Mariner Seaman Cyrus Amparo applies primer to elevator shocks on the main deck of the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE 8) in the western ... More

Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) recieve ammunition from the dry cargo/ammuniton shipUSNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE-8) during an at-sea ammunition onload.

Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) recieve a...

PACIFIC OCEAN (Oct. 23, 2016) Sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) recieve ammunition from the dry cargo/ammuniton shipUSNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE-8) during an at-sea ammunition onload. Ni... More

The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) conducts an ammunition on-load with the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE 8).

The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) conducts an ammun...

PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 02, 2017) The aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) conducts an ammunition on-load with the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE 8). Theodore Roosevelt is off t... More

Astronaut Walter M. Schirra, NASA Mercury project

Astronaut Walter M. Schirra, NASA Mercury project

Full Description: Astronaut Walter M. Wally Schirra, one of the original seven astronauts for Mercury Project selected by NASA on April 27, 1959. The MA-8 (Mercury-Atlas) mission with Sigma 7 spacecraft was the... More

NASA Wernher von Braun, Army ballistic missile agency

NASA Wernher von Braun, Army ballistic missile agency

Five of the seven original astronauts are seen with Dr. von Braun inspecting the Mercury-Redstone hardware in the Fabrication Laboratory of Army Ballistic Missile Agency (ABMA) in 1959. Left to right: Astronaut... More

Mercury Project, America Space Program

Mercury Project, America Space Program

Dr. Wernher von Braun, Director of the Army Ballistic Missile Agency's (ABMA) Development Operations Division, poses with the original Mercury astronauts in ABMA's Fabrication Laboratory during a 1959 visit. In... More

Mercury Project, NASA Mercury project

Mercury Project, NASA Mercury project

Astronaut Walter M. "Wally" Schirra, one of the original seven astronauts for Mercury Project selected by NASA on April 27, 1959. The MA-8 (Mercury-Atlas) mission with Sigma 7 spacecraft was the third marned or... More

Mercury Project - original seven astronauts

Mercury Project - original seven astronauts

The group portrait of the original seven astronauts for the Mercury Project. NASA selected its first seven astronauts on April 27, 1959. Left to right at front: Walter M. Wally Schirra, Donald K. Deke Slayton, ... More

PORTRAIT - SCHIRRA, WALTER, JR., ASTRONAUT - MISC.

PORTRAIT - SCHIRRA, WALTER, JR., ASTRONAUT - MISC.

G60-02741 (May 1960) --- Astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr. Photo credit: NASA

SCHIRRA, WALTER, JR., ASTRONAUT - TRAINING - CENTRIFUGE - PA

SCHIRRA, WALTER, JR., ASTRONAUT - TRAINING - CENTRIFUGE - PA

G60-02461 (1960) --- Astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr. prepares to enter gondola of centrifuge which is used to test gravitational stress on astronauts training for spaceflight. Schirra became the pilot of the Me... More

SCHIRRA, WALTER, JR. - ASTRONAUT - MISC.

SCHIRRA, WALTER, JR. - ASTRONAUT - MISC.

S61-02839 (1961) --- Astronaut Virgil I. (Gus) Grissom, pilot of the Mercury-Redstone 4 (MR-4) spaceflight, suits up for MR-4 simulation training. Assisting is suit technician Joe Schmitt. Photo credit: NASA

FLIGHT LINE PREP. - ASTRONAUTS SLAYTON, GRISSOM, SCHIRRA

FLIGHT LINE PREP. - ASTRONAUTS SLAYTON, GRISSOM, SCHIRRA

M61-00012 (20 Jan. 1961) --- Astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr. pictured on the flight line climbing aboard a F-106 aircraft. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Astronauts Scott Carpenter and Walter Schirra completes water egress test

Astronauts Scott Carpenter and Walter Schirra completes water egress t...

S62-01355 (1962) --- Project Mercury astronauts M. Scott Carpenter, prime pilot of the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) spaceflight, prepares to go through a water egress test. Astronaut Walter M. Schirra (back to camera... More

Astronaut Walter Schirra - Assisted - Sigma "7" Spacecraft - Cape

Astronaut Walter Schirra - Assisted - Sigma "7" Spacecraft - Cape

S62-06002 (3 Oct. 1962) --- Astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr., pilot of the Mercury-Atlas 8 (MA-8) Earth-orbital spaceflight, is assisted by backup pilot L. Gordon Cooper into his Sigma 7 spacecraft for the begin... More

Astronaut Walter Schirra gets modified calonic test

Astronaut Walter Schirra gets modified calonic test

S62-06157 (1962) --- Astronaut Walter Schirra Jr. gets modified calonic test. His balance mechanism (semicircular canals) are tested by running cool water into ear and measuring effect on eye motions (nystagmus... More

EGRESS TRAINING - ASTRONAUTS SCHIRRA AND CARPENTER

EGRESS TRAINING - ASTRONAUTS SCHIRRA AND CARPENTER

S62-01358 (1962) --- Project Mercury astronaut M. Scott Carpenter, prime pilot of the Mercury-Atlas 7 (MA-7) spaceflight, goes through a water egress test. He is in the Mercury pressure suit, without the helmet... More

Astronaut Walter M. Schirra, Jr.

Astronaut Walter M. Schirra, Jr.

S62-05526 (1962) --- Astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr. Photo credit: NASA

Astronaut Walter Schirra during water egress training

Astronaut Walter Schirra during water egress training

S62-01379 (1962) --- Astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr., wearing his pressure suit, is seated in a life raft during a portion of his water egress training. Photo credit: NASA

ASTRONAUT WALTER M. SCHIRRA, JR. - PRESS CONFERENCE

ASTRONAUT WALTER M. SCHIRRA, JR. - PRESS CONFERENCE

Held following Schirra's MA-8 6-orbital flight 10/03/1962. (FROM COLOR)

Wernher von Braun, America Space Program

Wernher von Braun, America Space Program

NASA officials from Headquarters and the astronauts often met with Dr. von Braun in Huntsville, Alabama. This photograph was taken in September 1962 during one such visit. From left to right are Elliot See, Tom... More

Astronaut Walter Schirra during suiting-up exercise prior to MA-8 flight

Astronaut Walter Schirra during suiting-up exercise prior to MA-8 flig...

S62-08895 (1962) --- Astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr., pilot of the Mercury-Atlas 8 (MA-8) Earth-orbital spaceflight, goes through a suiting-up exercise in Hanger "S" at Cape Canaveral several weeks prior to his... More

Schirra and Cooper step from Transfer van

Schirra and Cooper step from Transfer van

S62-06008 (3 Oct. 1962) --- Astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr., pilot of the Mercury-Atlas 8 (MA-8) Earth-orbital spaceflight, steps from a transport van as he arrives at Cape Canaveral's Pad 14 during the MA-8 pr... More

Astronaut Walter Schirra - Removal - Sigma 7 Capsule - USS Kearsage

Astronaut Walter Schirra - Removal - Sigma 7 Capsule - USS Kearsage

S62-06108 (3 Oct. 1962) --- Close-up view of Mercury-Atlas 8 (MA-8) astronaut Walter Schirra Jr. being removed from his Sigma 7 capsule by Navy personnel. Photo credit: NASA

Astronaut Walter Schirra - Removal - Sigma "7" Capsule - USS Kearsage

Astronaut Walter Schirra - Removal - Sigma "7" Capsule - USS Kearsage

S62-06144 (3 Oct. 1962) --- Wide angle view of Mercury-Atlas 8 (MA-8) astronaut Walter Schirra Jr. being removed from his Sigma 7 capsule by Navy personnel. Photo credit: NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- An Atlas launch vehicle lifts off with the Mercury spacecraft Sigma 7 atop with astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr. aboard. The fifth American into space and the third to orbit the Earth plans to circle the globe six time prior to a planned splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Photo Credit: NASA KSC-62PC-0078

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- An Atlas launch vehicle lifts off with the Mer...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- An Atlas launch vehicle lifts off with the Mercury spacecraft Sigma 7 atop with astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr. aboard. The fifth American into space and the third to orbit the Earth pla... More

Astronaut Walter Schirra smiles during post-flight physcial

Astronaut Walter Schirra smiles during post-flight physcial

S62-06163 (3 Oct. 1962) --- Astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr. smiles at medical personnel (out of frame) during a postflight physcial aboard the USS Kearsage, prime recovery vessel for Mercury-Atlas 8 (MA-8) upon... More

ASTRONAUT SCHIRRA, WALTER M., JR. - MERCURY-ATLAS (MA)-8 RECOVERY - "SIGMA 7" - PRE-SPLASHDOWN

ASTRONAUT SCHIRRA, WALTER M., JR. - MERCURY-ATLAS (MA)-8 RECOVERY - "S...

S62-04534 (3 Oct. 1962) --- Landing with parachute extended of astronaut Walter M. Schirra's Mercury-Atlas 8 (MA-8) capsule, called the Sigma 7, after a world orbital flight. Photo credit: NASA

Astronaut Walter Schirra being removed from his Sigma 7 capsule

Astronaut Walter Schirra being removed from his Sigma 7 capsule

S62-06148 (3 Oct. 1962) --- Close-up view of Mercury-Atlas 8 (MA-8) astronaut Walter Schirra being removed from his Sigma 7 capsule by Navy personnel. Schirra has just removed his helmet. Photo credit: NASA

S63-01419A (1963) --- Portrait of the first two groups of astronauts. The seven original Mercury astronauts plus new members of the astronaut corps. Seated from left to right are: Gordon Cooper, Gus Grissom, Scott Carpenter, Wally Schirra, John Glenn, Alan Shepard and Deke Slayton. Standing from left to right are: Edward White, James McDivitt, John Young, Elliot See, Charles Conrad, Frank Borman, Neil Armstrong, Thomas Stafford, and James Lovell. Signatures are also visible at the bottom of the frame. Photo credit: NASA s63-01419a

S63-01419A (1963) --- Portrait of the first two groups of astronauts. ...

S63-01419A (1963) --- Portrait of the first two groups of astronauts. The seven original Mercury astronauts plus new members of the astronaut corps. Seated from left to right are: Gordon Cooper, Gus Grissom, Sc... More

ASTRONAUT WALTER M. SCHIRRA, JR.

ASTRONAUT WALTER M. SCHIRRA, JR.

S63-18249 (1963) --- Astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr. standing beside T-38. Photo credit: NASA

Astronaut Walter Schirra leaves Hanger "S" prior to MA-8 flight

Astronaut Walter Schirra leaves Hanger "S" prior to MA-8 flight

S63-00695 (3 Oct. 1962) --- Astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr., pilot of the Mercury-Atlas 8 (MA-8) Earth-orbital spaceflight, leaves Hanger "S" at Cape Canaveral on his way to his scheduled Oct. 3, 1962 flight. P... More

Walter Schirra and Walter Williams at Mercury 7 memorial

Walter Schirra and Walter Williams at Mercury 7 memorial

S64-40113 (1964) --- Astronaut Walter Schirra Jr. (right) and Walter Williams, Deputy Director of Mission Requirements, pictured at the Mercury 7 memorial dedication. Photo credit: NASA

GROUP - GEMINI ASTRONAUTS (SUITED) - ASTRONAUT SCHIRRA

GROUP - GEMINI ASTRONAUTS (SUITED) - ASTRONAUT SCHIRRA

S64-19432 (13 April 1964) --- Left to right are astronauts John W. Young, Virgil I. Grissom, Walter M. Schirra Jr. and Thomas P. Stafford. Gemini III crew assignments are as follows: Grissom, command pilot; Yo... More

Schirra and Stafford Suit-Up. NASA public domain image colelction.

Schirra and Stafford Suit-Up. NASA public domain image colelction.

(October 20, 1965) Astronauts Walter M. Schirra Jr. (seated), command pilot, and Thomas P. Stafford, pilot, Gemini 6 prime crew, go through suiting up exercises in preparation for their forthcoming flight. The ... More

Schirra, Stafford and Gemini on Deck

Schirra, Stafford and Gemini on Deck

Astronaut Walter H. Schirra Jr. (on right), Command pilot, climbs from his Gemini VI spacecraft as he and Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford (not in view) arrive aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Wasp. They are assi... More

ASTRONAUT WALTER M. SCHIRRA, JR. - TRAINING - (SIMULATOR)

ASTRONAUT WALTER M. SCHIRRA, JR. - TRAINING - (SIMULATOR)

S65-13919 (15 Jan. 1965) --- Astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot of the Gemini-6 prime crew, is pictured in the cockpit of the Gemini simulator at the Mission Control Center at Cape Kennedy, Florida.... More

GT-3 DISCUSSION - - MISC., NASA Gemini program

GT-3 DISCUSSION - - MISC., NASA Gemini program

S65-20431 (23 March 1965) --- Astronaut Virgil I. Grissom (right), the command pilot of the Gemini-Titan 3 three-orbit mission, is shown with astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr. in the ready room at Pad 16. The GT-... More

Gemini 6 crew during press conference

Gemini 6 crew during press conference

S65-19406 (6 April 1965) --- Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (left), pilot; and Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot, have been named as the prime crew for the Gemini-Titan 6 spaceflight. Schirra and Stafford ser... More

Astronaut Walter Schirra during weight and balance test

Astronaut Walter Schirra during weight and balance test

S65-54319 (22 Sept. 1965) --- Astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot of the Gemini-6 prime crew, undergoes weight and balance tests in the Pyrotechnic Installation Building, Merritt Island, Kennedy Spac... More

ASTRONAUT WALTER M. SCHIRRA, JR. - MISC. -EXAMINE GLOBE (GT-6 PRIME CREW)

ASTRONAUT WALTER M. SCHIRRA, JR. - MISC. -EXAMINE GLOBE (GT-6 PRIME CR...

S65-56185 (21 Oct. 1965) --- Gemini-6 astronauts Walter M. Schirra Jr. (left), command pilot; and Thomas P. Stafford, pilot, look at a star globe for celestial pattern recognition for their upcoming flight. The... More

ASTRONAUT WALTER M. SCHIRRA, JR. - TRAINING (GT-6 PRIME CREW INSIDE S/C)

ASTRONAUT WALTER M. SCHIRRA, JR. - TRAINING (GT-6 PRIME CREW INSIDE S/...

S65-56177 (1965) --- Gemini-6 astronauts Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot, and Thomas P. Stafford, pilot, check out the spacecraft during a simulated test at Launch Complex 19 at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Ph... More

Astronauts Stafford and Schirra during suiting up exercises at the Cape

Astronauts Stafford and Schirra during suiting up exercises at the Cap...

S65-56151 (October 1965) --- Gemini-6 astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (left), pilot, and Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot, are shown during suiting up exercises at Cape Kennedy, Florida. Photo credit: NASA or... More

ASTRONAUT WALTER M. SCHIRRA, JR. - MISC. - INSERTION (PRELAUNCH) - CAPE

ASTRONAUT WALTER M. SCHIRRA, JR. - MISC. - INSERTION (PRELAUNCH) - CAP...

S65-56196 (25 Oct. 1965) --- Astronauts Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot; and Thomas P. Stafford, pilot, stand in the white room atop Pad 19 awaiting insertion into their Gemini-6 spacecraft during the prel... More

ASTRONAUT WALTER M. SCHIRRA, JR. - MISC. (GEMINI-TITAN [GT]-6 PRELAUNCH ACTIVITY) - CAPE

ASTRONAUT WALTER M. SCHIRRA, JR. - MISC. (GEMINI-TITAN [GT]-6 PRELAUN...

S65-61912 (12 Dec. 1965) --- Astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot, accepts the best wishes of G.F. Wendt, McDonnell Aircraft Corporation pad leader, as he arrives in the white room atop Pad 19. Moment... More

ASTRONAUT WALTER M. SCHIRRA, JR. - MISC. - GEMINI-TITAN (GT)-6 (PRIME CREW AT BREAKFAST) - CAPE

ASTRONAUT WALTER M. SCHIRRA, JR. - MISC. - GEMINI-TITAN (GT)-6 (PRIME ...

S65-61880 (15 Dec. 1965) --- Astronauts Walter M. Schirra Jr. (left), command pilot; and Thomas P. Stafford (center), pilot, enjoy a breakfast of steak and eggs in the Manned Spacecraft Operations Building, Mer... More

GT-6 PREFLIGHT ACTIVITY (LEAVE SUITING TRAILER) - ASTRONAUT WALTER M. SCHIRRA, JR. - SUIT

GT-6 PREFLIGHT ACTIVITY (LEAVE SUITING TRAILER) - ASTRONAUT WALTER M....

S65-59974 (15 Dec. 1965) --- Astronauts Walter M. Schirra Jr. (leading), command pilot; and Thomas P. Stafford, pilot, leave the suiting trailer at Launch Complex 16 during the Gemini-6 prelaunch countdown at C... More

GEMINI-TITAN (GT)-6 - PREFLIGHT ACTIVITY (INSERTION)(PRIME CREW) - ASTRONAUT WALTER M. SCHIRRA, JR. - MISC. - CAPE

GEMINI-TITAN (GT)-6 - PREFLIGHT ACTIVITY (INSERTION)(PRIME CREW) - AS...

S65-59984 (15 Dec. 1965) --- NASA and McDonnell technicians assist the Gemini-6 prime crew into the spacecraft in the white room atop Pad 19 during the Gemini-6 prelaunch countdown at Cape Kennedy, Florida. Ast... More

Workers at Cape Kennedy watched a Saturn 1B lift off

Workers at Cape Kennedy watched a Saturn 1B lift off

Description: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Workers at Cape Kennedy watched a 224-foot-high Saturn 1B space vehicle lift off today from Complex 34 carrying Apollo 7 astronauts Walter M. Schirra Jr., Donn F. Eise... More

Schirra Reflects. NASA public domain image colelction.

Schirra Reflects. NASA public domain image colelction.

(October 20, 1968) A heavy beard covers the face of astronaut Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Apollo 7 Commander, as he looks out the rendezvous window in front of the Commander's station on the ninth day of the Apollo... More

Wally Schirra Greets Dr. Wernher von Braun

Wally Schirra Greets Dr. Wernher von Braun

(October 10, 1968) Apollo 7 Commander Walter M. Schirra, Jr., left, greets Dr. Wernher Von Braun, Director, Marshall Space Flight Center and Dr. Kurt Debus, Right, KSC Director, during a prelaunch mission brief... More

The Apollo 7 Prime Crew. NASA public domain image colelction.

The Apollo 7 Prime Crew. NASA public domain image colelction.

(May 22, 1968) The prime crew of the first manned Apollo space mission from left to right are: Command Module pilot, Don F. Eisele, Commander, Walter M. Schirra Jr. and Lunar Module pilot, Walter Cunningham. Th... More

AS07-04-1582 - Apollo 7 - Apollo 7 Mission, Apollo Commander Walter Schirra, Jr.

AS07-04-1582 - Apollo 7 - Apollo 7 Mission, Apollo Commander Walter Sc...

The original database describes this as: Description: Apollo 7,Apollo Commander Walter Schirra,Jr. Original film magazine was labeled N. Camera Data: Hasselblad 500-C; Lens: Zeiss Planar,F/2.8,80mm; Film Type:... More

AS07-04-1596 - Apollo 7 - Apollo 7 Mission, Apollo Commander Walter Schirra Jr. inside Command Module

AS07-04-1596 - Apollo 7 - Apollo 7 Mission, Apollo Commander Walter Sc...

The original database describes this as: Description: Apollo 7,Apollo Commander Walter Schirra Jr. inside Command Module. Original film magazine was labeled N. Camera Data: Hasselblad 500-C; Lens: Zeiss Planar... More

Apollo 7 - Astronauts R. Walter Cunningham, Walter M. Schirra, and Donn F. Eisele,

Apollo 7 - Astronauts R. Walter Cunningham, Walter M. Schirra, and Don...

Pictured left to right, in the Apollo 7 Crew Portrait, are astronauts R. Walter Cunningham, Lunar Module pilot; Walter M. Schirra, Jr., commander; and Donn F. Eisele, Command Module Pilot. The Apollo 7 mission,... More

Wernher von Braun and Walter M. Schirra, Jr.

Wernher von Braun and Walter M. Schirra, Jr.

Dr. von Braun, Director of the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), greets Commander of Apollo 7 mission, Walter M. Schirra, Jr., during the mission briefing at Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The Apollo 7 mission,... More

A Saturn 1B space launch vehicle lifts off from Launch Complex 34 carrying Apollo 7 astronauts Walter M. Schirra Jr., Donn F. Eisele and Walter Cunningham

A Saturn 1B space launch vehicle lifts off from Launch Complex 34 carr...

The original finding aid described this photograph as: Base: Cape Kennedy State: Florida (FL) Country: United States Of America (USA) Scene Camera Operator: Nasa Release Status: Released to Public Combined... More

INFLIGHT - APOLLO 7 (CREW ACTIVITIES)

INFLIGHT - APOLLO 7 (CREW ACTIVITIES)

S68-50713 (14 Oct. 1968) --- Astronauts Walter M. Schirra Jr. (on right), mission commander; and Donn F. Eisele, command module pilot; are seen in the first live television transmission from space. Schirra is h... More

Apollo 7 Mission,Apollo Commander Walter Schirra Jr. inside Co

Apollo 7 Mission,Apollo Commander Walter Schirra Jr. inside Co

AS07-04-1596 (20 Oct. 1968) --- A heavy beard covers the face of astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr., Apollo 7 commander, as he looks out the rendezvous window in front of the commander's station on the ninth day o... More

Astronaut Walter Schirra egresses spacecraft during recovery operations

Astronaut Walter Schirra egresses spacecraft during recovery operation...

Astronaut Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Apollo 7 commander, egresses the spacecraft during recovery operations in the Atlantic. He is assisted by a member of the U.S. Navy frogman team. The Apollo 7 spacecraft splash... More

Astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr., spacecraft commander, during the Apollo 7 mission

Astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr., spacecraft commander, during the Apol...

The original finding aid described this photograph as: Country: Unknown Scene Camera Operator: Nasa Release Status: Released to Public Combined Military Service Digital Photographic Files

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Mercury astronaut John Glenn and his wife, Annie, pose during a luncheon Feb. 17, 2012, celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glenn's Mercury mission MA-6, on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1429

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Mercury astronaut John Glenn and his wife, Anni...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Mercury astronaut John Glenn and his wife, Annie, pose during a luncheon Feb. 17, 2012, celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glenn's Mercury mission MA-6, o... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Annie Glenn, center, speaks as former Kennedy Space Center director Roy Bridges, left, and astronaut John Glenn look on during a luncheon Feb. 17, 2012, celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glenn's Mercury mission MA-6, on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1423

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Annie Glenn, center, speaks as former Kennedy S...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Annie Glenn, center, speaks as former Kennedy Space Center director Roy Bridges, left, and astronaut John Glenn look on during a luncheon Feb. 17, 2012, celebrating 50 years of Americans ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- U.S. Rep. Bill Posey listens to remarks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The event was conducted in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida a few miles from the launch pad where Glenn and Scott Carpenter took flight in Mercury spacecraft. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1484

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- U.S. Rep. Bill Posey listens to remarks during...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- U.S. Rep. Bill Posey listens to remarks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronauts, John Glenn, left, and Scott Carpenter, talk to Mercury Project workers and other guests in the Astronaut Encounter Theater at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. The pair participated in 50th anniversary events at the launch site of Glenn's first orbital flight aboard NASA's Friendship 7 capsule, which launched Feb. 20, 1962, aboard an Atlas rocket. At right, is Jack King, who was chief of Kennedy's Public Information Office during Project Mercury. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1477

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronauts, John Glenn, left, and Scot...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronauts, John Glenn, left, and Scott Carpenter, talk to Mercury Project workers and other guests in the Astronaut Encounter Theater at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --John Zarella leads a standing ovation during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The event was conducted in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida a few miles from the launch pad where Glenn and Scott Carpenter took flight in Mercury spacecraft. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1514

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --John Zarella leads a standing ovation during th...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --John Zarella leads a standing ovation during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20,... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, standing, speaks during a luncheon Feb. 17, 2012, celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glenn's Mercury mission MA-6, on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1418

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, stand...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, standing, speaks during a luncheon Feb. 17, 2012, celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glenn's Mercury mission MA-... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronauts, John Glenn, left, and Scott Carpenter, talk to Mercury Project workers and other guests in the Astronaut Encounter Theater at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. The pair participated in 50th anniversary events at the launch site of Glenn's first orbital flight aboard NASA's Friendship 7 capsule, which launched Feb. 20, 1962, aboard an Atlas rocket. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1472

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronauts, John Glenn, left, and Scot...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronauts, John Glenn, left, and Scott Carpenter, talk to Mercury Project workers and other guests in the Astronaut Encounter Theater at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn and NASA Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana sit in the flight deck of space shuttle Discovery in Orbiter Processing Facility-1 OPF-1. Glenn is at the space center to mark the 50th anniversary of being the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth inside the NASA Mercury Project's Friendship 7 capsule on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn later returned to space in October 1998 as a payload specialist aboard Discovery's STS-95 mission. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Shuttle Discovery currently is being prepared for display at Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. Photo credit: Cory Huston KSC-2012-1454

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn and NASA Kennedy Space Center Direc...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn and NASA Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana sit in the flight deck of space shuttle Discovery in Orbiter Processing Facility-1 OPF-1. Glenn is at the space center to mar... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn sits in front of the plot board from the Mercury control center on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. The astronaut, part of the original class of seven astronauts chosen by NASA, was taking part in a question-and-answer session with the media as part of events celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glenn's Mercury mission MA-6, on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1435

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn sits in front of ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn sits in front of the plot board from the Mercury control center on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. The astronaut, part of the... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The international news media takes part in a question-and-answer session with Mercury astronauts John Glenn and Scott Carpenter at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. The astronauts, part of the original class of seven astronauts chosen by NASA, were taking part in events celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's Mercury mission MA-6, on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1438

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The international news media takes part in a q...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The international news media takes part in a question-and-answer session with Mercury astronauts John Glenn and Scott Carpenter at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. Th... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Former space shuttle launch director, Bob Sieck, left, talks to guests in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Sieck is helping John Glenn mark the 50th anniversary of being the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth inside the NASA Mercury Project's Friendship 7 capsule on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn later returned to space in October 1998 as a payload specialist aboard space shuttle Discovery's STS-95 mission. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Cory Huston KSC-2012-1461

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Former space shuttle launch director, Bob Siec...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Former space shuttle launch director, Bob Sieck, left, talks to guests in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Sieck is helping John Glenn mark the 50... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn and his wife, Annie, and NASA astronaut Stephen Robinson stand under space shuttle Discovery in Orbiter Processing Facility-1 OPF-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Glenn is at the space center to mark the 50th anniversary of being the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth inside the NASA Mercury Project's Friendship 7 capsule on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn later returned to space in October 1998 as a payload specialist aboard Discovery's STS-95 mission. Robinson was the payload commander of STS-95. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Shuttle Discovery currently is being prepared for display at Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. Photo credit: Cory Huston KSC-2012-1449

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn and his wife, Annie, and NASA astro...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn and his wife, Annie, and NASA astronaut Stephen Robinson stand under space shuttle Discovery in Orbiter Processing Facility-1 OPF-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Former space shuttle launch director, Bob Sieck, talks to guests in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Sieck is helping John Glenn mark the 50th anniversary of being the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth inside the NASA Mercury Project's Friendship 7 capsule on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn later returned to space in October 1998 as a payload specialist aboard space shuttle Discovery's STS-95 mission. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Cory Huston KSC-2012-1465

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Former space shuttle launch director, Bob Siec...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Former space shuttle launch director, Bob Sieck, talks to guests in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Sieck is helping John Glenn mark the 50th ann... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Lisa Malone, left, director of Public Affairs at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, talks with Mercury astronauts John Glenn, center, and Scott Carpenter in front of the plot board from the Mercury control center on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The astronauts, part of the original class of seven astronauts chosen by NASA, were taking part in a question-and-answer session with the media as part of events celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's Mercury mission MA-6, on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1439

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Lisa Malone, left, director of Public Affairs ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Lisa Malone, left, director of Public Affairs at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, talks with Mercury astronauts John Glenn, center, and Scott Carpenter in front of the plot board ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Zarella makes remarks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The event was conducted in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida a few miles from the launch pad where Glenn and Scott Carpenter took flight in Mercury spacecraft. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1505

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Zarella makes remarks during the "On Shou...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Zarella makes remarks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronauts Scott Carpenter, left, and John Glenn sit in front of a capsule from the Mercury program on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. The two astronauts, part of the original class of seven astronauts chosen by NASA, were taking part in events celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glenn's Mercury mission MA-6, on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1434

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronauts Scott Carpenter, left, and ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronauts Scott Carpenter, left, and John Glenn sit in front of a capsule from the Mercury program on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. The two ast... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn signs autographs in Orbiter Processing Facility-1 OPF-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida where space shuttle Discovery is being prepared for public display. Glenn is at the space center to mark the 50th anniversary of being the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth inside the NASA Mercury Project's Friendship 7 capsule on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn later returned to space in October 1998 as a payload specialist aboard Discovery's STS-95 mission. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Shuttle Discovery currently is being prepared for display at Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. Photo credit: Cory Huston KSC-2012-1458

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn signs autographs in Orbiter Process...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn signs autographs in Orbiter Processing Facility-1 OPF-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida where space shuttle Discovery is being prepared for public display. Glenn is ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Former space shuttle launch director, Bob Sieck, left, talks to guests in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Sieck is helping John Glenn mark the 50th anniversary of being the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth inside the NASA Mercury Project's Friendship 7 capsule on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn later returned to space in October 1998 as a payload specialist aboard space shuttle Discovery's STS-95 mission. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Cory Huston KSC-2012-1462

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Former space shuttle launch director, Bob Siec...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Former space shuttle launch director, Bob Sieck, left, talks to guests in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Sieck is helping John Glenn mark the 50... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronauts Scott Carpenter, left, and John Glenn and astronaut Steve Robinson of STS-95 listen to remarks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The event was conducted in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida a few miles from the launch pad where Glenn and Carpenter took flight in Mercury spacecraft. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1478

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronauts Scott Carpenter, left, and ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronauts Scott Carpenter, left, and John Glenn and astronaut Steve Robinson of STS-95 listen to remarks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Amer... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn listens to remarks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The event was conducted in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida a few miles from the launch pad where Glenn and Scott Carpenter took flight in Mercury spacecraft. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1481

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn listens to remark...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn listens to remarks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glenn's MA-6 mission on Fe... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn, left, prepares to ride in the Corvette parade following the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The event was conducted in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida a few miles from the launch pad where Glenn and Scott Carpenter took flight in Mercury spacecraft. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1502

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn, left, prepares t...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn, left, prepares to ride in the Corvette parade following the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --Mercury astronauts John Glenn, left, and Scott Carpenter sit in front of the plot board from the Mercury control center on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The astronauts, part of the original class of seven astronauts chosen by NASA, were taking part in a question-and-answer session with the media as part of events celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's Mercury mission MA-6, on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1442

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --Mercury astronauts John Glenn, left, and Scott ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --Mercury astronauts John Glenn, left, and Scott Carpenter sit in front of the plot board from the Mercury control center on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The astrona... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn speaks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The event was conducted in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida a few miles from the launch pad where Glenn and Scott Carpenter took flight in Mercury spacecraft. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1511

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn speaks during the...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn speaks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962.... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Ed Mango, program manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, left, talks with astronaut John Glenn, center and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden before a luncheon Feb. 17, 2012, celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glenn's Mercury mission MA-6, on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1417

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Ed Mango, program manager of NASA's Commercial ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Ed Mango, program manager of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, left, talks with astronaut John Glenn, center and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden before a luncheon Feb. 17, 2012, celebrati... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, right, talks to guests in Orbiter Processing Facility-1 OPF-1 where space shuttle Discovery is being prepared for public display during a 50th anniversary celebration of the first orbital flight of an American. The astronaut who made that first flight, John Glenn, is at the space center to commemorate that achievement. Glenn orbited the Earth three times in the NASA Mercury Project's Friendship 7 capsule on Feb. 20, 1962. He later returned to space in October 1998 as a payload specialist aboard Discovery's STS-95 mission. Also in the photo are Glenn's wife, Annie, NASA astronaut Stephen Robinson, and Bob Sieck, a former shuttle launch director. Robinson was the payload commander of STS-95. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Shuttle Discovery currently is being prepared for display at Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. Photo credit: Cory Huston KSC-2012-1450

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana,...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, right, talks to guests in Orbiter Processing Facility-1 OPF-1 where space shuttle Discovery is being prepared for public display during a 5... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Cal Fowler, Launch test director during Mercury, speaks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The event was conducted in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida a few miles from the launch pad where Glenn and Scott Carpenter took flight in Mercury spacecraft. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1485

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Cal Fowler, Launch test director during Mercur...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Cal Fowler, Launch test director during Mercury, speaks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's MA-6 ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn poses for a photo in front of the Project Mercury monument at Launch Complex-14 LC-14 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. During events at the Cape and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Glenn is marking the 50th anniversary of being the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth inside the Friendship 7 capsule on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1469

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn poses for a photo...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn poses for a photo in front of the Project Mercury monument at Launch Complex-14 LC-14 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. During events at the Ca... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -Annie Glenn, left, astronaut John Glenn and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden take part in a luncheon Feb. 17, 2012, celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glenn's Mercury mission MA-6, on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1422

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -Annie Glenn, left, astronaut John Glenn and NASA...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -Annie Glenn, left, astronaut John Glenn and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden take part in a luncheon Feb. 17, 2012, celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Gle... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn signs the wall of the clean room leading into space shuttle Discovery in Orbiter Processing Facility-1 OPF-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Glenn is at the space center to mark the 50th anniversary of being the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth inside the NASA Mercury Project's Friendship 7 capsule on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn later returned to space in October 1998 as a payload specialist aboard Discovery's STS-95 mission. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Shuttle Discovery currently is being prepared for display at Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. Photo credit: Cory Huston KSC-2012-1457

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn signs the wall of the clean room le...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn signs the wall of the clean room leading into space shuttle Discovery in Orbiter Processing Facility-1 OPF-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Glenn is at the space c... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn stands in the middeck of space shuttle Discovery in Orbiter Processing Facility-1 OPF-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Glenn is at the space center to mark the 50th anniversary of being the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth inside the NASA Mercury Project's Friendship 7 capsule on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn later returned to space in October 1998 as a payload specialist aboard Discovery's STS-95 mission. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Shuttle Discovery currently is being prepared for display at Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. Photo credit: Cory Huston KSC-2012-1451

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn stands in the middeck of space shut...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn stands in the middeck of space shuttle Discovery in Orbiter Processing Facility-1 OPF-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Glenn is at the space center to mark the 50t... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn, left, and Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana shake hands following the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The event was conducted in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida a few miles from the launch pad where Glenn and Scott Carpenter took flight in Mercury spacecraft. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1497

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn, left, and Kenned...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn, left, and Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana shake hands following the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, center, talks with U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, left and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson following the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The event was conducted in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida a few miles from the launch pad where Glenn and Scott Carpenter took flight in Mercury spacecraft. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1498

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, cent...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Kennedy Space Center Director Bob Cabana, center, talks with U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, left and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson following the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of A... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter speaks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The event was conducted in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida a few miles from the launch pad where Glenn and Scott Carpenter took flight in Mercury spacecraft. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1495

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter speaks during...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. --Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter speaks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. ... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn, left, talks with fellow Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter before they ride in the Corvette parade following the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The event was conducted in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida a few miles from the launch pad where Glenn and Carpenter took flight in Mercury spacecraft. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1501

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn, left, talks with...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn, left, talks with fellow Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter before they ride in the Corvette parade following the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn and his wife, Annie, and NASA astronaut Stephen Robinson tour the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Glenn is at the space center to mark the 50th anniversary of being the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth inside the NASA Mercury Project's Friendship 7 capsule on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn later returned to space in October 1998 as a payload specialist aboard space shuttle Discovery's STS-95 mission. Robinson was the payload commander of STS-95. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Cory Huston KSC-2012-1464

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn and his wife, Annie, and NASA astro...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn and his wife, Annie, and NASA astronaut Stephen Robinson tour the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Glenn is at the space center to mark the... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, left, talks with astronaut John Glenn and his wife, Annie Glenn, before a luncheon Feb. 17, 2012, celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glenn's Mercury mission MA-6, on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1415

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, left, talks ...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, left, talks with astronaut John Glenn and his wife, Annie Glenn, before a luncheon Feb. 17, 2012, celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era whi... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn poses for a photo in front of the Project Mercury monument at Launch Complex-14 LC-14 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. During events at the Cape and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Glenn is marking the 50th anniversary of being the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth inside the Friendship 7 capsule on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1470

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn poses for a photo...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut John Glenn poses for a photo in front of the Project Mercury monument at Launch Complex-14 LC-14 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. During events at the Ca... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter speaks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb. 20, 1962. The event was conducted in the Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida a few miles from the launch pad where Glenn and Scott Carpenter took flight in Mercury spacecraft. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1496

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter speaks durin...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter speaks during the "On Shoulders of Giants" program celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with John Glenn's MA-6 mission on Feb.... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, left, shares a laugh with astronaut John Glenn before a luncheon Feb. 17, 2012, celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glenn's Mercury mission MA-6, on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2012-1416

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, left, shares...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, left, shares a laugh with astronaut John Glenn before a luncheon Feb. 17, 2012, celebrating 50 years of Americans in orbit, an era which began with Glen... More

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn and his wife, Annie, and NASA astronaut Stephen Robinson stand under space shuttle Discovery in Orbiter Processing Facility-1 OPF-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Glenn is at the space center to mark the 50th anniversary of being the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth inside the NASA Mercury Project's Friendship 7 capsule on Feb. 20, 1962. Glenn later returned to space in October 1998 as a payload specialist aboard Discovery's STS-95 mission. Robinson was the payload commander of STS-95. Glenn's launch aboard an Atlas rocket took with it the hopes of an entire nation and ushered in a new era of space travel that eventually led to Americans walking on the moon by the end of the 1960s. Glenn soon was followed into orbit by Scott Carpenter, Walter Schirra and Gordon Cooper. Their fellow Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard and Virgil "Gus" Grissom flew earlier suborbital flights. Deke Slayton, a member of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, was grounded by a medical condition until the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975. Shuttle Discovery currently is being prepared for display at Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va. Photo credit: Cory Huston KSC-2012-1445

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn and his wife, Annie, and NASA astro...

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- John Glenn and his wife, Annie, and NASA astronaut Stephen Robinson stand under space shuttle Discovery in Orbiter Processing Facility-1 OPF-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. ... More

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