John H Glenn Jr 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

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"John H. Glenn Jr: 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 H. Glenn Jr. , a true trailblazer in space exploration. A year earlier, President John F. Kennedy joined John Glenn and General Davis during a vibrant Cocoa Beach Parade, celebrating their remarkable achievements. It was a moment of pride for the nation as they witnessed these heroes being recognized for their courage and dedication. President Kennedy's admiration for Glenn extended beyond parades; he presented an award to Robert Gilruth, who played a pivotal role in NASA's success alongside astronauts like Glenn. This gesture showcased the government's unwavering support for those pushing boundaries and reaching new frontiers. Glenn's most iconic mission came on February 20th, 1962 - Friendship As his spacecraft soared through space, capturing breathtaking images through his Leica camera and Minolta camera onboard became part of history itself. These photographs allowed us to witness Earth from an entirely new perspective. During this groundbreaking journey, Glenn relied on specially designed equipment such as binoculars by Hensoldt-Wetzlar and rangefinders that helped him navigate through uncharted territories safely. The capsule that carried him into orbit was none other than the Mercury MA-6 - a marvel created by McDonnell Aircraft Corp that forever changed our understanding of human capabilities in outer space. Even amidst weightlessness and limited resources aboard Friendship 7, food remained essential for survival. Beef and vegetable space food provided vital sustenance during this historic mission – fueling both body and mind as mankind ventured further into the unknown. As President Kennedy toured Cape Canaveral's Mercury Control Center in Florida later that year, he witnessed firsthand how dedicated teams worked tirelessly behind-the-scenes to ensure every astronaut had everything they needed to succeed – including state-of-the-art equipment like the Leica viewfinder. John H.