Timeline Tuesday 20 February 1962

Events on Tuesday 20 February 1962 1

• 1962 John Glenn orbits the Earth First American astronaut to orbit the planet Aboard Friendship 7, John Glenn completed three orbits of Earth on February 20, 1962, becoming the first American to do so. The flight was a major milestone in the Space Race against the Soviet Union. Glenn later became a US senator and returned to space in 1998.