NASA presents “The John Glenn Story”, an in-depth look at the early life and career of American astronaut John Glenn. It features preparation procedures and provides actual footage of his space flight aboard Friendship 7 comprised of three orbits around the Earth and a daring re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. It also shows footage of various stations around the globe tracking the historic launching. Mercury-Atlas 6 took off in February of 1962. It was carried into orbit by the Atlas LV-3B launch vehicle. Big Ben stands over London (:56) as a montage of various stations around the globe countdown. The launch team operates controls (2:20) on the ground. McDonnell Douglas employees (2:44) test the crafts readiness. Friendship 7 appears at the launch pad on February 20th, 1962 (4:03). Glenn prepares himself prior to launching (4:18). He was the youngest American born astronaut to enter space. He sticks his helmet on (4:34) as the narrator details Glenn’s background and military standing. Flight controllers (6:59) operate from the Mercury Control Center within view of the launch complex. Dawn opens over Bermuda (8:07). Station 2 of the Mercury network continues the count (8:12). Telemetry continuously records (8:52) information radioed down. Station 3 (9:43) follows. The USNS Rose Knot (9:54) operates out of Trinidad. The Mercury station on Grand Canary Island (10:40) follows. Operators appear at the 8th station (11:37) in Western Australia. Operators at Kauai, Hawaii (12:18) prepare for Friendship 7’s arrival. The station of Corpus Christi in Texas continues the count (13:37). The Goddard Space Flight Center operates as the heart of the Mercury network (14:03). Glenn waits with a solemn face (14:58) and later marches in his silver suit (15:24). The NASA transfer van (17:52) arrives. Footage follows the astronaut up and into the elevator (18:16). Astronauts step into the capsule (19:31). Ground support readies themselves (20:27) at the controls. In a moving moment, one of the technicians shakes Glenn’s hand (20:58) as he lay in the space capsule. Friendship 7 emerges (22:04). The countdown begins around a US Navy helicopter (22:59); part of the recovery team. Spectators watch from the beach (23:16). Close shots capture the earth path indicator within the capsule which will trace Glenn’s movements after takeoff (25:25). Engines ignite (27:18) and smoke billows out (27:18). Glenn sits in the cockpit as Friendship 7 continues its flight path up (27:51). The moment of SECO (29:46) is captured. A view follows of the earth’s crest (30:06) viewed aboard Friendship 7. The earth path indicator is filmed as Friendship 7 enters orbit (31:04). Friendship 7 radios Bermuda (31:14). Friendship 7 nears Africa (34:43). The earth path indicator reveals their location (35:03). The craft hangs above the Indian Ocean (35:13). Glenn communicates with base (36:27). His physical response to space flight is recorded (36:49). Glenn reports sighting particles flying around the capsule (38:28). Friendship 7 began to yaw due to a malfunction (39:39). Another dangerous issue arose (41:01) as ground support receives a signal over the heat shield (41:12). Friendship 7 radios to California (41:39). Cape Canaveral (42:24) receives signal the heat shield is loose. Tension rises as Glenn gets ready for re-entry (43:25). Glenn is instructed to keep his retro jettison switch off (43:56) as a corrective measure. Countdown (44:16) leads to firing of the retro rockets. Glenn instructed to reenter with his pack on (45:11). Glenn questions the reasoning behind this decision (45:35). Ground support decides against informing him of the danger of his situation. Contact is lost between Friendship 7 and Mission Control (47:45). Glenn hits a break in the atmosphere as the craft slows (49:15). The destroyer USS Noa, awaits the landing of Friendship 7 (50:03). Glenn discusses listening to the retro pack breaking during the descent (50:29) and the parachute opening (52:18). The Noa heads to pick up the craft after splashdown (52:44). The capsule is lifted (53:11) onto the deck.

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