50 Years After…. 11 years of continuous ISS habitation and international collaboration.

While volunteering at the National Air and Space Museum today, a docent kindly told me about the historic event that is upon us.  Not only is tomorrow the day we celebrate our countries presidents, Monday, February 20, 2012, marks the 50th anniversary of John Glenn’s trip around the earth in a Mercury-Atlas capsule.  Dubbed “Friendship 7,” this was the first time that American’s had put a man in space.

While doing my kids demonstration today, I was proud to let them all know that tomorrow is a day not to forget in space exploration.

Don’t forget Able, the Rhesus monkey, that in May 28th, 1959 paved the way for US space flight.  If you recall 2 years earlier, the U.S.S.R. attempted to send a dog into space, but the dog did not survive. Trailing the U.S.S.R., in both earth orbit and space walk, the United States has been the only country to send a space explorer to the moon, something which China plans to do in the future.

Now 90, John Glenn continues to tell stories of his space exploration.

Read all about John Glenn’s amazing career and check out photos and historical information at Nasa.gov