It’s been half a century since former U.S. Sen. John Glenn took to the sky for his legendary Earth orbit.
On Feb. 20, 1962, Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth, and a space exploration pioneer, as he piloted the Friendship 7 NASA spacecraft.
In December, Gov. John Kasich signed a new state law designating Feb. 20 as John Glenn Friendship 7 Day.
As February begins, several events are planned to honor Glenn and his legacy. Most of them will be in Columbus, but others will take place locally.
On Feb. 11, the John and Annie Glenn Historic Site in New Concord will host “Dinner and a Movie in Outer Space.” Dinner will be provided by Classic Fare Catering, and reservations are required. The 1983 movie, “The Right Stuff,” featuring Ed Harris as John Glenn, will be shown.
“It’s not entirely accurate, but it’s exciting,” said Debbie Allender, historic site operations manager. “It tells the stories about the (Mercury Seven) pilots.”
Allender said the museum also will collect stories for a project asking “Where were you in ’62?” She is eager to hear memories from that time. The stories might be published, she said.
Ohio State University also will host several events to get students, alumni and community members involved in the momentous celebrations.
From Feb. 1 through April 30, the school’s Thompson Library will showcase the exhibit “Friendship 7 at 50: An Anniversary Celebration of John Glenn’s Historic Space Flight.” It will feature manuscripts, photos and artifacts from the John Glenn Collection to describe Glenn’s selection and training as one of the original seven Mercury astronauts, his Friendship 7 space mission, and the public acclaim he received after his return to Earth.
The exhibit includes a gallery talk at 4 p.m. Feb. 16.
A faculty panel addressing the future of space exploration featuring Ohio State faculty will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 in Page Hall.
Another major discussion activity will be the NASA Future Forum hosted Feb. 20 and 21 at the U.S. Bank Conference Theater in the Ohio Union. The program will feature panel discussions on innovation, discovery, national benefits and education.
It will feature key speakers, including Glenn, Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden.
NASA leadership, technologists, scientists and engineers along with local business, science, technology and education leaders will discuss the future role of NASA in further advancing innovation, technology, science, engineering, education and the economy that benefits the community and the nation.
Shelly Hoffman, OSU media relations spokesperson, said the main event will be a celebration dinner at 7 p.m. Feb. 20 in the Archie Griffin Ballroom in the Ohio Union. Proceeds from the dinner will benefit faculty, students and programs related to science and technology research and policy at the John Glenn School of Public Affairs and the College of Engineering. The university hopes to raise more than $2 million toward student scholarships in those areas.
The keynote speaker is NASA astronaut Mark Kelly, commander of the space shuttle Endeavor’s final mission. Glenn also is expected to attend.
“We’re pleased he’s able to join us and be the guest speaker,” Hoffman said. “This is a special event to Ohio and to the nation. We’re fortunate to have John Glenn as a part of our OSU family, and to have some of his legacy here at the school.”
These might be more serious events, but Hoffman said other engaging activities will take place from Feb. 13 to 19 around the campus. These include movies, astronaut fitness assessments, quiz nights, a sampling of food items such as astronaut ice cream and gum, and other events that are listed on www.osu.edu/johnglenn.
OSU and Muskingum University have partnered for a service project Feb. 17 called “Friendship 7: Joining Forces for Service.” Activities include working with Habitat for Humanity, COSI and elderly care facilities.
“We wanted to do this because John Glenn has ties to both universities,” said Jody Poth, Parent, Family and Alumni Relations assistant director with the Office of Student Life. “We’re bringing students from Muskingum to Columbus with the purpose of getting people together. It will be pulling alumni back and helping students understand the impact the Glenns have made.”