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Friendship 7  'slipped the surly bonds of earth' atop an Atlas rocket and threw it self into the skies, making John Glenn the first American astronaut into orbit the Earth.  I remember watching this on the black and white TV my folks had [great big console - little tiny TV screen].  This was one of the rare times my mom let me 'have a sick day' and stay home from school to watch.  [One of those things' we didn't tell dad about - he didn't understand my fascination in things science and space].

By today's standards three orbits is nothing.  But back than, it was amazing. Add the fact there was a mechanical failure that pretty much forced Glenn to drop computer control to line up for re-entry position.  Add to that the error message saying that the clamps holding the retro-rocket pack 'may' have released too early - if they had, the chances of a 'catastrophic re-entry failure' [read 'burn in like a meteor'].

It's amazing just how long a 10 year old can hold their breath if they are really motivated.

I think I'm going to dig up my copy of 'The Right Stuff' and rewatch it later tonight.  It feel right.

God Speed, John Glenn




High Flight
by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds...and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of...wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air.

Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew.
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.