John Glenn through the fiery re-entry
NASA/Andy Saunders
ON 20 February 1962, NASA astronaut John Glenn turned the primary American to orbit Earth, however there have been indicators of hassle. As Glenn’s Friendship 7 spacecraft returned from its historic flight, a warning mild indicated its warmth defend had unlatched, risking full incineration. This picture (above) captures Glenn in the mean time he reenters Earth’s ambiance, items of the burning spacecraft casting a fiery orange glow on his face.
Happily, Glenn splashed down safely within the Atlantic Ocean minutes later. A defective swap within the warmth defend circuit was responsible for the alarm.
The picture is featured in a brand new e book, Gemini and Mercury Remastered, which celebrates these early NASA missions by masterfully restored pictures and movie stills.
One other vital second got here earlier within the flight, when Glenn used a digicam he had bought from a store close to the launch website in Cape Canaveral, Florida, to snap the primary {photograph} taken by a human in area (pictured above). Later images by astronauts confirmed Earth in unprecedented methods, and NASA realised the scientific and public worth of such area pictures.
Gemini and Mercury Remastered by Andy Saunders, who restored the NASA photographs himself, is out within the UK from 28 August.
Gemini and Mercury images, restored
See extra remastered photographs from these historic area missions beneath.
Subjects:
- area flight/
- area exploration
