America celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first flight around the Earth

On February 20, the United States celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first flight around the Earth.

At Cape Canaveral, Florida, the Friendship 7 spacecraft brought astronaut John Glenn into orbit at exactly 9:47 am (local time) on February 20, 1962. This astronaut flies 3 times around Earth's orbit for nearly 5 hours.

Although it took place nearly a year after the Soviet astronaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person in the world to fly into space, the flight partially restored confidence in America's ability in the main race. serving space, and making astronaut Glenn become a national hero.

The moment of Friendship 7 space ship launched into space.

During this space-conquering flight, Glen flew 3 rounds of Earth orbit for 4 hours 55 minutes before landing in Bermuda in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean.

Speaking to the press on the occasion of the event, former astronaut Scott Carpenter, the second American flying around Earth orbit on May 24, 1962, said the first flights had helped pave the way. for Americans to take their first steps to the Moon 7 years later (July 1969).

However, both former astronauts Glenn and Carpenter expressed concern that the US Aeronautics Agency (NASA) is no longer deploying a program to fly manned space after the shuttle fleet "retires." " in July 2011. NASA's decision to terminate the shuttle program forced the US to rely on Russia to bring astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS).

NASA is now urging private businesses to invest in research and development programs for a new generation of spacecraft capable of flying farther than replacing the shuttle. Space X Group of America is expected to make the first commercial flight to ISS on March 20.