John Glenn, fighter pilot, astronaut and politician, has died aged 95.
Glenn, who fought in both the Second World War and the Korean War as a Marine, went on to find fame as the first American to orbit the Earth in space, when in 1962 he made the trip in a space capsule called Friendship 7.
He later served as a Democrat Senator for Ohio for 25 years – and even made a return trip to space in 1998 at the age of 77.
President Barack Obama was one of the first to pay tribute, saying in a statement: “John spent his life breaking barriers, from defending our freedom as a decorated Marine Corps fighter pilot in World War II and Korea, to setting a transcontinental speed record, to becoming, at age 77, the oldest human to touch the stars.”
He added: “I have lost a friend.”
.@POTUS on the death of John Glenn: "I have lost a friend." pic.twitter.com/byKq69NLYx
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) December 8, 2016
This video shows the historic flight he took in 1962, complete with narration that makes it sound like a 1950s sci-fi space drama, including the line “… as his rendezvous with space approaches.”
NASA were also quick to pay tribute, calling him “A true American hero.”
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) December 8, 2016
Glenn once famously quipped about the nature of funding of government projects:
As I hurtled through space, one thought kept crossing my mind – every part of this rocket was supplied by the lowest bidder. – John Glenn pic.twitter.com/v4UqcL7wA0
— C. Michael Gibson MD (@CMichaelGibson) December 8, 2016
Here’s a snapshot of his life, from Association Press:
