WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Glenn died Thursday afternoon at the Ohio State Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio at the age of 95.
We are saddened by the loss of Sen. John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth. A true American hero. Godspeed, John Glenn. Ad astra. pic.twitter.com/89idi9r1NB
— NASA (@NASA) 8 декабря 2016 г.
"Senator Glenn's legacy is one of risk and accomplishment, of history created and a duty to country carried out under great pressure with the whole world watching," Bolden stated on Thursday. "The entire NASA family will be forever grateful for his outstanding service, commitment and friendship."
Bolden noted that Glenn's team, the Mercury 7 astronauts, united the country with their February 1962 flight aboard the Mercury spacecraft Friendship 7, which Glenn piloted.
With that flight, Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth.
"His missions have helped make possible everything our space program has since achieved and the human missions to an asteroid and Mars that we are striving toward now," Bolden said.
We remember American legend Sen. John Glenn. Statement from our Administrator Charles Bolden on Glenn's passing: https://t.co/xkmGSjLnOO pic.twitter.com/x63ZAvNUhm
— NASA (@NASA) 8 декабря 2016 г.
