1.
CU GLENN BEING FITTED INTO SPACE SUIT
0.11

2.
SV DITTO
0.20

3.
CU GLENN
0.26

4.
SV GLENN LEAVES HANGER, WAVES AND CLIMBS INTO VAN - WALKS TO ELAVATOR
0.41

5.
GV ELAVATOR UP GANTRY
1.04

6.
CU GLENN CLIMBS INTO CAPSULE
1.36

7.
GANTRY AND ROCKET AWAITING BLAST OFF
1.40



Initials IM/V/AW/FW


EDITORS NOTE: POOR QUALITY DUE TO TELERECORDING. SEE OUR PRODUCTION 1029/1962 FOR COVERAGE OF ROCKET BLAST OFF.

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: ON THE MORNING OF FEB 20, LIEUTENANT-COLONEL JOHN GLENN OF THE UNITED STATES MARINES, WAS BLASTED TRIUMPHANTLY INTO SPACE IN THE NOSE OF AN ATLAS ROCKET FROM CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA. THE 40-YEAR-OLD ASTRONAUT COMPLETED THREE ORBITS OF THE EARTH IN HIS SPACECRAFT "FRIENDSHIP SEVEN" BEFORE BEING PICKED UP IN THE ATLANTIC BY A HELICOPTER. HIS FLIGHT LASTED 4-HOURS 56-MINUTES. HE HAD BEEN INSIDE HIS MERCURY CAPSULE FOR ALMOST EXACTLY NINE HOURS.

HIS DAY STARTED BEFORE DAWN WITH A HEARTY BREAKFAST OF STEAK, EGGS AND ORANGE JUICE. WITH HIS PHYSICIAN IN ATTENDANCE HE WAS FITTED INTO HIS SILVER SPACE SUIT. JUST A FINAL CHECK OF THE MANY INSTRUMENTS THAT WERE TO RECORD HIS PHYSICAL REACTIONS TO THE FLIGHT AND HE WAS READY TO GO. SINCE THE FIRST ATTEMPT AT ORBITAL FLIGHT ON JAN 26, THERE HAVE BEEN TEN POSTPONEMENTS EITHER DUE TO BAD WEATHER OR TECHNICAL TROUBLE.

HE WALKED QUICKLY FROM THE HANGER WHERE HE HAD DRESSED TO THE VAN THAT WAS TO TAKE HIM TO THE LAUNCH PAD. THE HUGE CROWD OF CAMERAMEN AND REPORTERS RECEIVED A CHEERY WAVE FROM THE ASTRONAUT BEFORE HE BOARDED THE VAN. AT THE ROCKET SITE EVERYTHING WAS READY FOR THE FIRST AMERICAN ATTEMPT TO ORBIT THE EARTH. THE ONLY OTHER MEN IN THE WORLD TO KNOW WHAT GLENN WAS ABOUT TO GO THROUGH WERE THE TWO RUSSIAN SPACEMEN YURI GAGARIN AND GHERMAN TITOV. GAGARIN BECAME THE FIRST MAN IN SPACE WITH ONE ORBIT. TITOV MADE 17 ORBITS.

SEVERAL TIMES LONG COUNT-DOWN WAS HALTED TO MAKE MINOR TECHNICAL ADJUSTMENTS. WHILE WAITING IN HIS CAPSULE THE ASTRONAUT WAS ABLE TO TELEPHONE HIS FAMILY AT HOME NEAR WASHINGTON. WHEN AT LAST THE COUNT-DOWN REACHED ZERO THE 95FT ROCKET ROSE INTO THE AIR WITH A SHATTERING ROAR.

DURING HIS SECOND 88-MINUTE ORBIT COLONEL GLENN TOOK OVER CONTROL OF THE CRAFT AFTER REPORTING MINOR DIFFICULTIES WITH THE POSITIONING MECHANISM. AT THIS TIME HE WAS TRAVELLING AT 17,545 M.P.H. AT A HEIGHT OF ABOUT 60 MILES.