Posted by Ray Katz in current, featured, history, private
Group plans amazing celebration of Glenn’s Mercury flight
Bold celebration planned
As any space buff knows, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth in February 1962, when he piloted the Friendship 7 spacecraft on a 3 -orbit mission.
Fifty years later, a group called “Americans in Orbit – 50 Years” plans to celebrate with a repeat of that historic flight. They intend to build a new Mercury spacecraft based on the schematics of the original one. Instead of an Atlas rocket (which 48 years later, still seems like a terribly dangerous vehicle), they will use a new Falcon 9 booster built by SpaceX.
The purpose of the organization, and the flight, is to generate interest in space exploration, especially among young people. Basically, they (like me) would like Americans to meet the challenges still awaiting us in space. The group wants to remember and respect the past, and build a bold new future.
Oh, and they need to raise $31 million. You can donate at their website.
