On February 20, 1962, astronaut John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth. Aboard the tiny Mercury capsule Friendship 7, Glenn circled the planet three times in nearly five hours—proving that the United States could match the Soviet Union in the early days of the Space Race.

The mission was not without tension. A warning light suggested the capsule’s heat shield might be loose, an issue that could have been catastrophic during re-entry. Glenn was instructed to leave a retro-rocket pack in place as a precaution. When he splashed down safely in the Atlantic, he was instantly a national hero.

Glenn’s flight helped restore American confidence during a competitive era of exploration. It was a reminder that space was no longer the domain of science fiction, it was a frontier being mapped in real time.

Thanks for reading,

The TTC Team

P.S. Email is like hunting buried treasure sometimes. So, please check your junk or promotions folder if this newsletter ever goes missing… and move it to your primary inbox. Feel free to forward Today’s Time Capsule to another history fan.