Photos: John Glenn through the years

Nation & World News

Photos: John Glenn through the years

He was the first American man to orbit the Earth and the oldest person to go into space. John Glenn wasn't only an astronaut, he was also a Senator and pilot, flying 59 combat missions during World War II and nearly 90 missions during the Korean War.

The original seven Project Mercury astronauts: front row, left to right, are Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Donald "Deke" K. Slayton, John Glenn Jr., and M. Scott Carpenter. Back row, left to right, are Alan Shepard Jr., Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, and Gordon Copper. (Photo by NASA/Roger Ressmeyer/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)

John Glenn crouches near Shepard's capsule, Freedom 7, prior to launch . (Photo By Ralph Morse/The LIFE Premium Collection/Getty Images)

In this handout photo provided by NASA, U.S. Astronaut John H. Glenn Jr. wears a silver Mercury pressure suit in preparation for launch February 20, 1962. Glenn lifted off into space aboard his Mercury Atlas (MA-6) rocket and became the first American to orbit the Earth. (Photo by NASA via Getty Images)

Pictured: (l-r) Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, Annie Glenn, the first American astronaut to orbit Earth John Glenn at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for Glenn's presentation ceremony of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal on February 23, 1962 -- (Photo by: Fred Hermansky/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

PROJECT MERCURY -- Pictured: (l-r) President John F. Kennedy, the first American astronaut to orbit Earth, John Glenn, wife Annie Glenn during Glenn's presentation ceremony of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Distinguished Service Medal on February 23, 1962 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station -- (Photo by: Fred Hermansky/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

U Thein Zaw, one of the owners of The Nagar Glass Factory, points at a picture of American astronaut John Glenn's visit to the factory in 1966 on March 9, 2015 in Yangon, Burma. The Nagar Glass Factory was destroyed by Cyclone Nargis when it smashed through the region in 2008. Though the family business no longer produces items, they continue to sell off the stock they accumulated over decades of operation. (Photo by Taylor Weidman/Getty Images)

During his campaign for the Democratic Presidential nomination, American politician and former astronaut Senator John Glenn poses beside the Friendship 7 space capsule at the US Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, Alabama, January 18, 1984. In February 1962, Glenn successfully orbited the Earth in the capsule as part of the NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) Project Mercury. (Photo Robert R. McElroy/Getty Images)

American politician and former astronaut Senator John Glenn gives a 'thumbs up' sign as he leans out of the door during his campaign for the Democratic Presidential nomination, Massachusetts, January 5, 1984. (Photo Robert R. McElroy/Getty Images)

John Glenn, former astronaut and the first American to orbit the earth, was a senator from Ohio from 1974-1999. (Photo by © Shepard Sherbell/CORBIS SABA/Corbis via Getty Images)

American astronaut John Glenn becomes the oldest person in space during the STS-95 mission on board the shuttle Discovery, 1998. (Photo by Space Frontiers/Getty Images)

In this handout image provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), democratic presidential candidate U.S. Senator John Kerry (D-MA) (C), U.S. Senator and former astronaut Bill Nelson (D-FL) (R), former U.S. Senator and former astronaut John Glenn (D-OH) (L) and U.S. Senator Bob Graham (D-FL) (Rear) sit in hatch of the NASA Shuttle Discovery during a tour of the Kennedy Space Center complex July 26, 2004 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Senator Kerry continues his 'Americas Freedom Trail' campaign as he travels to Boston for the Democratic National Convention. (Photo by NASA via Getty Images)

Former astronaut John Glenn looks on at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) on September 24, 2009 in New York City. The Fifth Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) looks to gather prominent individuals in politics, business, science, academics and religion to discuss global issues such as climate change and peace in the Middle East. The event, founded by former president Bill Clinton after he left office, is held the same week as the General Assembly at the United Nations as most world leaders are in New York. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

John Glenn visits the National Air and Space Museum on June 23, 2011 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kris Connor/Getty Images)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), astronaut and former U.S. Senator John Glenn (D-OH), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Apollo 11 Astronaut Buzz Aldrin and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison participate in the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol November 16, 2011 in Washington, DC. The gold medals were presented to Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth; and Aldrin and his fellow Apollo 11 crew members, Michael Collins and Neil Armstrong. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Former Astronaut and former U.S. Senator John Glenn (D-OH) stands in front of the Space Shuttle Discovery during an event at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center April 19, 2012 in Chantilly, Virginia. The space shuttle Discovery is the he oldest and most traveled vehicle from NASA's space shuttle program, and will replace the Interprise at the museum. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Former astronaut and former U.S. Sen. John Glenn (D-OH) is presented with a Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President Barack Obama during an East Room event May 29, 2012 at the White House in Washington, DC. The Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, is presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Astronaut and former Ohio Senator John Glenn talks to members of the media prior to the game between the Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees at Progressive Field on August 26, 2012 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

1/17

The original seven Project Mercury astronauts: front row, left to right, are Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Donald "Deke" K. Slayton, John Glenn Jr., and M. Scott Carpenter. Back row, left to right, are Alan Shepard Jr., Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, and Gordon Copper. (Photo by NASA/Roger Ressmeyer/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)

Today's Gallery Headlines

Jimmy Carter ‘forever’ stamp

PHOTOS: 2025 AJC Photos of the Year

Coca-Cola first ad

PHOTOS: Coca-Cola ads over time

Alonzo Herndon

PHOTOS: Philanthropists leave mark on Atlanta

gainesville, thomas county central

PHOTOS: Thomas County Central pummels Gainesville for 5A state title