John Glenn The Life and Legacy of th..., Charles River Editors
John Glenn The Life and Legacy of th..., Charles River Editors
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John Glenn: The Life and Legacy of the First American Astronaut to Orbit Earth

Author: Charles River Editors

Narrator: David Santowski

Unabridged: 1 hr 50 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 07/24/2019


Synopsis

From 1959-1963, the United States worked toward putting satellites and humans into orbit via the Mercury program, but they continued to lag behind the Soviets. With the opening of a new decade, the Soviets reinforced their Space Race lead in a big way. On April 12, 1961, the world watched as the Soviets scored two major victories: they sent the first human being into space and made that man the first to orbit the Earth. Yuri Gagarin's success seemed to both solidify the Soviet's lead in the Space Race and underline the importance of scientific achievements in the race for geopolitical prestige. Even on the other side of the world, the United States could not deny the significance of the Vostok mission. President Kennedy graciously congratulated the Soviets, while privately conceding that it would be impossible for the United States to match Soviet space achievements for some time. At the same time, American policymakers also understood the depth of this latest defeat in the Space Race. On February 20, 1962, John Glenn orbited the Earth, nearly a year after Gagarin’s orbit, and he remains best known for that historic feat, but in many ways it obscures a life and career of astonishing depth. Before the Friendship 7 mission, Glenn was already a distinguished combat fighter in multiple wars, and he was one of America’s best test pilots, a record that included making the first supersonic transcontinental flight in American history. He was an obvious candidate for the country’s first team of astronauts, and it launched him not only into space but into a long political career. All told, Glenn earned too many awards to count, and along the way, he became the oldest person to fly in space. John Glenn: The Life and Legacy of the First American Astronaut to Orbit Earth profiles his life, chronicles his historic space mission, and details all the highlights before and after it. 

Reviews

Goodreads review by Benjamin on October 15, 2019

I'm from Ohio I don't think many people outside our State. actually Know Much about him. There's a high school named after him in my region which is Close to both New Concord and Cambridge Ohio. He has in the past of the State almost a Mythic Stature! God Speed......more

Goodreads review by Mark Laufenberg on July 19, 2019

This is the first book by Charles River Editors that I've read and I was not disappointed. It fits in with the category of history books by various authors that can be read in about an hour. I've read a number of these and in my opinion, this book is as well written as any of them and better than mo......more

Goodreads review by Kevin Rumsey on September 05, 2020

Space What a wonderful detailed book about John Glenn. For those like me, who were young children during the Space Race in the mid to late 60" s, this is a must read book........more

Goodreads review by Donna Hartz on January 15, 2020

Story of a remarkable man Tells about John Glenn's past that made him the remarkable and heroic person he was. After reading I can understand why he treated others with kindness and compassion......more