John Glenn Collection

Mercury Astronauts Receiving the Collier Trophy, White House, Washington, USA, 1963. NASA Administrator James E. Webb (center)

President John F. Kennedy, John Glenn and General Davis in Cocoa Beach Parade, 1962. President Kennedy (left), astronaut John Glenn and General Leighton I

Kennedy Presents Award to Gilruth, 1962. Creator: NASA
Kennedy Presents Award to Gilruth, 1962. US President John F. Kennedy presents Dr. Robert R. Gilruth, Director of the Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston, Texas

Friendship 7, February 20, 1962. Creator: NASA
Friendship 7, February 20, Florida, USA, 1962. At 9:47 am EST, astronaut John Glenn launched from Cape Canaverals Launch Complex 14 to become the first American to orbit the Earth

President Kennedy tours Mercury Control Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA, 1962. President John F. Kennedy is briefed on the operation of Mercury Control Center following the Mercury-Atlas 6 (MA-6)

Beef and vegetables space food, Mercury Friendship 7 mission, 1962. Creator: Unknown
Beef and vegetables space food, Mercury Friendship 7 mission, 1962. This space food package contains pureed beef with vegetables

Binoculars, Friendship 7, 1962. Creator: Hensoldt-Wetzlar
Astronaut John Glenn Jr. carried these binoculars, manufactured by Hensoldt-Wetzlar, into space during the during the flight of Friendship 7, the first U.S

Camera, Leica, Spectrographic, 35mm, Glenn, Friendship 7, ca. 1962. Creator: Leica
With this camera, a Leica 1g model, astronaut John H. Glenn, Jr. carried out the first human-operated, astronomical experiment in space during his pioneering mission on February 20, 1962

Camera, 35mm, Glenn, Friendship 7, ca. 1962. Creator: Minolta
With this camera, an Ansco Autoset model, astronaut John H. Glenn, Jr. took the first human-captured, color still photographs of the Earth during his three-orbit mission on February 20, 1962

Capsule, Mercury, MA-6, 1962. Creator: McDonnell Aircraft Corp
In this historic capsule, John H. Glenn Jr. became the first American to orbit the Earth. Glenns flight was the third manned mission of Project Mercury

Viewfinder, Camera, Leica, Friendship 7, ca. 1962. Creator: Unknown
In order for John Glenn to take photographs during his February 20, 1962 mission while still wearing his bulky spacesuit, NASA engineers modified a Leica camera with this special viewfinder

Rangefinder, Friendship 7, ca. 1962. Creator: Unknown
During his three-orbit flight on February 20, 1962, John Glenn used this photometer/rangefinder to measure the airglow layer around the Earth

First aid kit owned by John Glenn, Mercury-Atlas 6 mission, 1962. Creator: Unknown
First aid kit owned by John Glenn, Mercury-Atlas 6 mission, 1962. This first aid kit was part of the equipment assigned to John Glenn for his historic mission aboard the Mercury spacecraft

Interior view of Mercury spacecraft Friendship 7, pictured on arrival at the Science Museum, London, Monday 14th May 1962

Heat shield of Mercury spacecraft Friendship 7, pictured on arrival at the Science Museum, London, Monday 14th May 1962. The space capsule was piloted by astronaut John Glenn (20/02/1962)

Members of the public patiently wait to take a look at Mercury spacecraft Friendship 7, pictured on arrival at the Science Museum, London, Monday 14th May 1962

Mercury spacecraft Friendship 7, pictured on arrival at the Science Museum, London, Monday 14th May 1962. The space capsule was piloted by astronaut John Glenn (20/02/1962)

People queuing to take a look at Mercury spacecraft Friendship 7, which arrived at the Science Museum, London, Monday 14th May 1962

The Mercury capsule "Friendship 7"in which astronaut John Glenn became
The Mercury capsule " Friendship 7" in which astronaut John Glenn became the first American to orbit the earth on February 20th 1962, 15th May 1962

The Mercury Seven astronauts, 1959. A group photo in spacesuits of the seven test pilots chosen in April 1959 to participate in Project Mercury, NASAs manned space project

John Glenn and crew, June 1998. Seated are Curtis L Brown and Steven W Lindsey. Standing, from the left are Scott F Parazynski and Steven K Robinson, Chiaki Mukai, Pedro Duque and John H Glenn

John H Glenn, American astronaut, May 1998. In October 1998, the STS-95 mission flew from the Kennedy Space Center with the aim of examining the effects of space flight and ageing

John H Glenn and crew members, June 1998. Wearing training versions of the Space Shuttle partial pressure launch and entry suit are (from the left) Scott Parazynski, Glenn, and Stephen Robinson

Usa-Space-Cosmonaut-John Glenn
portrait taken on the 3rd December 1961 at Cape Canaveral, USA of American Cosmonaut John Glenn. AFP PHOTO / AFP

Jackie & John Glenn Water Ski Jackie & John Glenn Water Ski
Hyannis Port, Massachusetts: July 22, 1962 Jacqueline Kennedy and astronaut John Glenn water ski on Lewis Bay. The boat was driven by Ethel Kennedy, wife of the Attorney General

John Glenns Mercury spacesuit on display at the National Air & Space Museum, Washington DC. Glenn was the first American to reach Earth orbit, in the Mercury MA-6 capsule, on 20 February 1962

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"John Glenn: A Pioneer in Space Exploration" In 1963, the Mercury Astronauts were honored with the prestigious Collier Trophy at the White House in Washington, USA. Among them was John Glenn, a true trailblazer who left an indelible mark on history. During a Cocoa Beach Parade in 1962, President John F. Kennedy stood alongside John Glenn and General Davis as they basked in the adoration of the crowd. It was a moment that symbolized their remarkable achievements and dedication to pushing boundaries. President Kennedy recognized Glenn's contributions by presenting him with an award in 1962. This gesture highlighted his pivotal role within NASA and his unwavering commitment to advancing space exploration under Project Mercury. Glenn's historic flight aboard Friendship 7 on February 20, 1962, remains etched in our collective memory. With breathtaking images captured by cameras like Leica Spectrographic and Minolta, we witnessed his journey into the unknown as he orbited Earth for nearly five hours. As President Kennedy toured the Mercury Control Center at Cape Canaveral later that year, he marveled at the technological marvels that made Glenn's mission possible. The control center served as a nerve center for monitoring every aspect of Friendship 7's voyage through space. Even amidst weightlessness and limited resources onboard Friendship 7, astronauts like John Glenn relied on specially prepared meals such as beef and vegetables to sustain themselves during their missions. These innovative food solutions ensured their well-being while exploring new frontiers. With binoculars provided by Hensoldt-Wetzlar and various camera equipment including Leica Viewfinders and Rangefinders, Glenn documented his extraordinary experiences from inside Friendship Through these lenses, we gained glimpses into a world beyond our own. The capsule itself - Mercury MA-6 - built by McDonnell Aircraft Corp became synonymous with courage and determination exemplified by Glenn.