posted 12-09-2016 07:17 AM               

Last man to walk on the moon salutes the passing of former astronaut and senator John Glenn

posted 12-09-2016 08:32 AM               

The first time I met John Glenn was at his Senate office in 1996. I was 20 years old and working on my second website, Ask An Astronaut. The meeting had been arranged by the National Space Society, where I was a new intern and had partnered with to run the site. Glenn had agreed to answer questions submitted by the public.

I clearly remember being nervous as one his staffers led me from the reception area into a conference room (the first photo was taken that day). To be honest, even though we'd meet several more times over the next decade — like at an Astronaut Scholarship Foundation post-event dinner (as also pictured) — I was always star struck in his presence.

When Glenn returned to orbit in 1998, he agreed to participate in Ask An Astronaut again. We had proposed to NASA that he do so while in space and despite having the backing of Yahoo! for the project, the agency declined. Instead, we web streamed his launch live (a first) and he replied to the questions soon after he was back from the mission.

One of the questions asked was about how Discovery's windows compared to the one on his Mercury capsule. "They were so much better than I had back in Friendship 7 in 1962, it was an amazing difference," he replied. "This time of course, I was also able to free float in the cabin and float up to the window."

I will forever be grateful for the "window" Glenn provided into his experience and career by taking part in Ask An Astronaut, and even more so for the brief opportunities we had to interact.

One of those encounters was for the 40th anniversary of his Mercury flight in 2002. Before he delivered a talk, I took a photo of him and his wife, Annie, standing in front of Friendship 7 at the National Air and Space Museum. The next year, that photo was selected for the cover of Aviation Week's "Spotlight" magazine, in celebration of Glenn winning the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy.

The last time that Glenn and I spoke was 10 years later, for the 50th anniversary of his historic three-orbit flight in 2012. During our phone call, I asked him about where he thought we were going next in space.

"I see [space] exploration going two directions. One is macro, which is out to Mars or wherever we are going out into space and back. That is just a fact of going someplace new and coming back. But to me, wherever we go we should try to maximize the research return of the capabilities we are developing."

posted 12-09-2016 02:10 PM               

Presidential Proclamation — Death of John Glenn

As a mark of respect for the memory of John Glenn, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, on the day of interment.

I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same period at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

posted 12-09-2016 04:13 PM               

John Glenn's Contribution to NASA's Space Program Honored at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Remembrance held in front of Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame

A ceremony was held at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex this afternoon to honor NASA astronaut and Ohio Senator John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, who passed away on Dec. 8, at the age of 95.

Held in front of Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, the ceremony included remarks by space shuttle astronaut Jon McBride; Therrin Protze, chief operating officer, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex; and Robert Cabana, director of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, and space shuttle astronaut. The ceremony was attended by Apollo astronaut Al Worden and space shuttle astronaut Winston Scott.

"We at Delaware North join NASA and all Americans in mourning the loss of John Glenn, a legendary American hero who made invaluable contributions to the space program and to the country," said Rick Abramson, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Delaware North, which operates Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for NASA.

The ceremony took place at 1:30 this afternoon and highlighted Glenn's illustrious career as an astronaut pioneer as well as a national hero. Born in Ohio, Glenn flew combat missions in both World War II and the Korean War as a Marine aviator. As one of NASA's original Mercury 7 astronauts, Glenn's flight aboard Friendship 7 on February 20, 1962, launched America to the forefront of the space race. He continued to serve his country as a four-term Senator from Ohio. He was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1990. In 1998, at the age of 77, he flew on the STS-95 Discovery space shuttle flight, becoming the oldest human in space.

"The impact of John Glenn's legacy will always be present for our visitors," said Therrin Protze, chief operating officer of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. "He will be forever a pioneer who inspired the world. We are privileged to honor him and his invaluable contributions to his country and space exploration."

posted 12-09-2016 08:14 PM               

This morning, flowers and a memorial panel were placed by Senator John Glenn's Friendship 7 spacecraft at our Museum in Washington, DC. Has his life and legacy inspired your own life? We're collecting and sharing your stories on our website. Share yours.

Flowers and a memorial panel were also placed by space shuttle Discovery at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia.