STS-95

The date, February 20th, has some special meanings to a lot of Americans. For one thing, it is the day that the primary flight crew for the space shuttle Discovery’s STS-95 mission will be introduced to the media. It is also the day marking the 36th anniversary of the first American astronaut to orbit the earth in a one-manned capsule named Friendship 7. What do these two events have in common? In case you haven’t heard by now, the occupant of the latter will also be a passenger on the former.

Astronaut John H. Glenn will be returning to space in late 1998, for the first time since his orbital flight of just over 5 hours in 1962. For various reasons, he never flew in space again. But the memories of his first flight have stood out as one of the great accomplishments of the early US space program. It was a different world in those Cold War years, and the space race that was developing between the US and the USSR tended to heighten the tensions between the two countries. But the times have changed, and today we are working towards a common goal with our former enemies, one that will help to ensure the survival of our planet, while expanding the horizons of our knowledge. It is fitting that John Glenn be a part of this program again. It is not only fitting, it is long overdue for this outstanding American who has dedicated his life to serving our country in both peace and war.

The website here at NASA will continue to be updated on a regular basis, as the flight date approaches. Be sure to check back often, and also the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, to find out the latest events on STS-95.

http://www.osf.hq.nasa.gov/shuttle/sts95/