John Glenn During the Mercury-Atlas 6 Spaceflight

On Feb. 20, 1962, astronaut John H. Glenn, Jr., became the first American to orbit Earth. Launched from Cape Canaveral Launch Complex 14, Glenn’s Mercury-Atlas 6 “Friendship 7” spacecraft completed a successful three-orbit mission, reaching a maximum altitude (apogee) of approximately 162 statute miles and an orbital velocity of approximately 17,500 miles per hour. The flight lasted a total of 4 hours, 55 minutes, and 23 seconds before the spacecraft splashed down in the ocean. This photograph of John Glenn during the Mercury-Atlas 6 spaceflight was taken by a camera onboard the spacecraft.

Video: NBC News Re-broadcast coverage John Glenn 1962 Space Flight

MSNBC Re-broadcast of NBC News coverage of the historic flight of Americas first orbital flight with John H. Glenn aboard (Mercury-Atlas 6)

This was the 3rd U.S manned space mission and it was launched on Tuesday February 20th 1962 at 9:47:39 A.M EST.
The flight would last a little under 5 hours after 3 orbits around the earth