much as help you get ready for "friendship 7"? >> no, i don't think that was the case at all. i think because we all had trained very hard on -- any one of the seven could have gone on any mission at that time. we were all adequately trained to do it. so i don't think that had anything to do with scott's problems. there was a misalignment on the spacecraft, as best they could determine, i think, where when the retro rockets were fired, as you're traveling -- remember now, you're traveling almost five miles a second. each second in error gives you five miles off, and any misalignment and yaw or so on would also give you the improper vector to get you down to where they thought you were coming down or planned for you to come down. and so it doesn't take much error up there to give a considerable distance off. it's a -- well, it's just a very complex thing coming back -- oh, i know what i was going to say.

in those days on "mercury," you took a ballistic re-entry. whatever your retrofire was, from then on, it was ballistic from then on. you had no control over where you were going to land. rotation. so if there was a little misalignment between the center of lift here -- or the center of pressure on the heat shield and the center of gravity, if those two were off a little bit, obviously, it would tilt overload and plane like a speed boat on the water. you'd plane off the air coming back in. they used that later on in "apollo" to do exactly that, to control to a more precise landing. but on "mercury," we actually, after retrofire, set up a radar rotation so that if there was any misalignment, it didn't take you off someplace, it would all be damped out or equalled out as you rotated coming down like that. but it doesn't take much error to get you considerable distance off target. >> yes, right here.

>> repeat this for -- >> i'm sorry. >> could you characterize the relationship between the von braun and the astronauts? >> we worked very well. i think at the management level, there were some problems that developed, and i think those have been written about. i don't need to talk about those. but as far as the astronauts, we were just trying to get trained and do our job. and we visited at his home a number of times. von braun was a very unique person, a very capable person. he -- i think he had a characteristic that a lot of th, through being known and traveling around the world some, we've had the opportunity to meet a lot of people that have done a lot of great things. and it seems to me that most people that have that characteristic have another characteristic. they have an inordinate

curiosity of everything around. they're curious about everything. can we invent a better mike? how about a clock, something here. when we went to huntsville, von brunn asked us up to dinner on the hill. i expected when you walked in his little library that here would be all the books on engineering and math and orbit orbital mechanics and all this type of stuff and that would be it. instead of that, when i went in his library for the first time, here were all the books on religion and ethics and philosophy and a few books on math and science and things like that. but his library was mainly filled up by other things. he was a very broad-gauged person. you'd ask him about religion or philosophy and you were in for a two-hour discussion. and so, i enjoyed being with him and i think the other astronauts did, too. and if there were management problems with one center and another and headquarters and so on, well, that was their problem and we really were not involved with that at our level.

>> back to the planetarium. >> senator glenn, i want to thank you for coming out today. appreciate it. one quick thing. can you show us the four black spots on your body? just kidding. i'd like you, if you would quickly, to just discuss your memories of gus grissom, your relationship to him and anything else you might add about gus. >> yes, gus and i were close and he was a no more dedicated person than gus. he really was a, really was a tiger at working at things and in keeping in shape. we were good friends. in houston, we built homes that were not too far apart. scott carpenter and i were side by side and back on a street right just about 100 yards away was gus grissom, wally, all of us in sort of little area there. and that was really a tragic loss. it came as -- i think looking back on it, obviously, it was a mistake to have 100% oxygen environment, because all you've

got to remember is your high school physics where you had a beaker of oxygen and you had just a little red-hot wire and you dipped the wire in there, and remember the wire metal burned when you put it in there. well, the mistake that was made on that as near as they can determine was they had some paper inside there. maybe the paper shouldn't have been in there. and a spark came out from they think during a test that they were on, and in that 100% oxygen environment, once that spark hit the paper, why, it just -- that was it. it was just practically explosive, and those are three fine people that were lost that time, not only gus, but roger chaffee and ed white, just outstanding folks. so that was the only loss nasa had before we had the "challenger" accident. and so gus was a good friend and he's still missed to this day. >> senator glenn, all the previous questions have focused on the past. let's talk about the future for

a moment. what's next for john and annie glenn? >> all of the questions have dealt with the past. let's go to the future. what's next for annie and john glenn? >> i'm just trying to keep up with annie, you know. i've suggested to annie that we should put in and try and go as a couple back into space. but shawn, lest you think this is something i'm coming to you with one of these days, wherever you are here -- she only has one caveat to this. she wants to be up there and she wants to look down and see everything up there. she just doesn't want to go through the launch. i don't know how you do that. no, seriously, one of the things we're doing, of course, was mentioned earlier in the introduction here. the institute for public service, public policy at ohio state.

i've felt for the last 15 years or so that we had so much cynicism and apathy of many of our young people toward anything to do with government and politics that it could be a hazard for the future, seriously, because our democracy depends upon people participating, and if we all went down the mall here and across to the archives building, went in and looked, there sits the constitution, hand-writ, there it is. it is the greatest single document on governance ever put forward in human history. and yet, we might as well take it out in front and burn it on the front steps, unless we have people willing to try and take those words off paper and make them come real for everybody in this country, everybody. not just the favored few, but everybody. that's what democracy is all about. not a communist-type thing, but, no. [ applause ] i have always looked at politics

as being the personnel department for the constitution, and i think it's every bit that. and so, we're trying to -- my encouragement in the government in politics didn't come after i was in the space program. it came when i was in high school. i had a wonderful teacher in high school, name was hartford steele, and he made civics come alive. it was the study of government and politics. i looked forward to going to his classes. and so that's where it came from, and always after that i had some little thing around that i was reading or something, whether i was overseas or wherever, and went into government and politics. never thought i'd be able to run myself but did later on by circumstances. so, we're working very hard on this thing at ohio state. i think september 11th helped rekindle some of this interest of our young people. now, how do we keep that going? debbie over here's doing a great job of our outreach program. we've had a program the last year on service learning that we have worked with our colleagues

at the kellogg foundation and put out a thing on service learning. before that, dick riley had asked me -- who was secretary of education -- had asked me to head up a study of math and science teaching in the 21st century. i was glad to do that, and some of the things we found there were just frightening as far as education goes. you know, our kids up to -- the third international math and science study, which was done on 41 nations around the world rating their kids, up to about the fourth grade, our kids rate in the top two or three nations of the world. when they get out of high school, our kids are two or three from the bottom of 41 nations. we found that 20% in the high school, 20% of the math teachers never majored or minored in math themselves. they didn't have anything to do with it. somebody says, hey, you're going to teach math next year. no, i don't want -- yeah, you're going to teach math next year, and they're barely ahead of the kids.

so, it's no wonder we're behind. same thing in science. 25% in math are that way, 20% in science. never studied it and yet we're expecting them to teach it. and we came out with a whole string of things that we made suggestions on for how we correct this. i won't have time to go into those tonight, for sure, but we're doing things like that, working with the institute up there and still doing some things here in washington we're interested in. so that's about it. >> pay load specialist, too, glenn. we want to thank you for what has been another amazing evening. and having you share your experiences with us once again. >> i have one thing i'd like to do here, if i might. >> yes, sir, whatever you want. >> that is, you've been a wonderful audience tonight. we appreciate that. and in the spirit of the last week or so, we thought we ought to rate the audience tonight. so, family, stand up, if you will. okay. [ applause ]

>> good thing you didn't know you were under that pressure. senator, thank you very much. can you see something that looks like a gift on the other side there? >> yeah. i don't know which one you want. >> well, pick any one of them. >> i'll bring the whole smear -- >> well, they're actually all the same. >> they are? >> it's interesting. since you were a key player in the space race, we're presenting you tonight with some russian laser art that depicts the first flight of the wright brothers. this is a limited edition -- >> well, that's great. >> you're the first one to receive this. >> well, that's great. thank you. thank you. appreciate it. thank you. >> you can put that one down and

>> all right, good, thank you. >> we want to thank the boeing company for the sponsorship. without this sponsorship, these types of events would not be possible, and we are very much indebted to you. thanks for being here tonight. glad you got a good seat. there will not be an autograph opportunity this evening. we ask that you exit via the rear doors of the theater. thank you very much for supporting our program and we'll see you next time. [ applause ] 50 years ago, astronaut john glenn became the first american to orbit the earth. the entire flight was just under five hours. he orbited the earth three times in a spacecraft named friendship 7.

next a 1963 film about john glenn tracking him from his boyhood in ohio through his historic space flight. this is half an hour. ♪ there are milestones in human progress that mark recorded history. in my judgment, this nation's orbital pioneering in space is of such historic stature, representing as it does a vast y influence the progress of all mankind, it signals also a call for alertness to our national opportunities and responsibilities. it requires physical and moral

stamina to equal the stresses oo meet the dangers and challenges of the future.ouhis life has eloquently portrayed these great qualities and is an inspiration to all america. this film in paying tribute to john glenn also pays tribute to the best in american life.o wa' many maps until february 20th, 1962.

it came to fame in a single day with an american adventurer that history will call the john glenn story. fashioned in the american image, this pleasant little city typifies a nation's ideal way of life. a man might make a good life here. in the circle of family and friends. and a boy might let his imagination soar. he might explore the wonders of the wide world all about him, life's simple mysteries. with bright discovery daily opening doors to knowledge. he can look away to distant places, to exciting adventures, hidden only by the horizon and the future.

like this boy, like boys everywhere, young john glenn dreamed of the future as he looked to far away new frontiers. why, he might even learn to fly. this town and these people, they knew john glenn as a school boy, as a teenager, and as a neighbor. like mayor taylor, they followed his career as he blazed a trail across the high sky. >> i watched john glenn grow up from a freckled face red headed lad into the man you all know today. john's youth and his life today are an example for all americans on follow. >> new concord high, like these youngsters, john attended school here. his principal and teacher was harford steele.

>> he was an excellent student and he graduated with honors from our high school. i taught johnny and hundreds of others that our democracy is a priceless heritage and that we should preserve, protect and if at all possible make some contributions to it. he has made a significant contribution in his mission in space. >> and this fine new school in new concord, it's the john glenn high school. with its first graduating class receiving diplomas, young john helped his father about this shop when he wasn't in school or acting as lifeguard at camp or in college. john went on to college at muskinghum right in new concord. the high regard of the college is expressed by its president.

>> john's conquest in space has captured the hearts and the imagination of all americans. so have his superb qualities of leadership, moral and physical strength and emotional stability. >> john found time fhool letter. muskinghum coach ed sherman recalls john glenn's athletic record. >> john played football right here on this field. he was captain of his high school team and played center for the college. he has proven the value of teamwork both as an athlete and later as an institute. -- astronaut. just like these boys, john took an active part in our physical fitness program.just like these an active part in our physical fitness program. heo together. >> campus discussions are

inspired by the first orbital flight of an american. >> i think thn opportunity to see that while we had a chance to do something for our nation, too, maybe i'll even go somewhere sometime. >> we had the same opportunities that he had. >> glenn proved that there are still many frontiers to be explored and conquered. >> and that shows how vital our education is. if our future is to be good. >> glenn always had a strong spiritual side. as dr. charles orehead recalls. >> john attended services at this church when he was a bo moment at john glenn's church. ♪ his excellence ♪

his glory is above the earth and heaven ♪ the earth and heaven ♪ >> john and annie were married at this church by dr. henry evans. >> they made a most handsome couple, john in his marine uniform, annie a beautiful happy bride. they both recognized the importance of the spiritual things of life as well as the mental and physical. >> the trial is also great for those who wait as recalled by annie's parents. homer and margaret castor. a real test of courage for annie, too. >> she was a very brave girl. >> annie had complete faith in the space program just as she had confidence in everything johnny set out to do.>> this ho glenn.

glenn are gratefully proud of their son's accomplishments. >> john was prepared for the orbital flight as was the entire team. >> in pr jing all his life for venture into space. as a small boy, his idea of a holiday was a visit to the airport. and when he grew up, it was no surprise to us when he decided to learn to fly. >> flight commanded young john's major interests. he had to learn to fly. world war ii inted he received his first flying lessons from pilot harry clever. >> this is john's flight record with my combat after his first flight, which was eager to learn, relaxed, alert, and good coordination. he certainly has retained these

flight qualities right into outer space. [ playing "anchors away" ] trai at corpus christi. many aviators won their wings here. like these cadets he on to learn with time in physical conditions and inspiration. like these naval aviators, to win his wings. the navy's thorough traininglen for wartime in the pacific flying 59 in corpses like these he blasted enemy targets, until there was peace and glenn returned to corpus christi as advanced flying instructor, until -- korea.

major john glenn came back to combat to fly 90 missions, to shoot down three migs. following korea, john glenn came home to flight test the super sonic crusader to flash across the nation, california to new york, setting a super sonic speed record of 3 hours and 23 minutes. with experimental thrusts toward speed and altitude. the limitations of time and distance were being brushed aside as experimental planes like the x-15 launched from its air force mother ship rocketed record-breaking altitudes and speeds. unmanned orbits pressed on until it was time for man to orbit. until the word was "go." answered the president's call, these astronauts dedicated

themselves to study, training and physical conditioning. with alan shepard about weightlessness and gus grissom with the space gravity and wally schirra.spacecraft co. three years of engineering skill and scientific experimentation have gone into this historic atlas launching. it was devised by thousands of technicians in hundreds of united states cities. and this, the motive power, carefully raised to position on its gantry. this, the atlas. with the power to develop 360,000 pounds of thrust, with

capability to lift the spacecraft and its passenger 160 miles and orbit at 17,500 miles an hour. now the word is "go" as the spacecraft is lifted into the position atop the atlas. this spacecraft, six feet across at its widest heat shield end, ten feet tall, built to withstand temperatures of 3,000 degrees fahrenheit as the winds whip by at more than 15,000 miles an hour -- as the astronaut prepares for space flight, for adventure into outer space. ♪ >> mercury control waits and watches with the atlas standing ready to throb into life. ready. friendship seven is ready, and so is john glenn.

♪ >> at the gantry, elevators lift glenn to the 11th level, the spacecraft level. ♪ >> glenn takes his place in friendship 7 looking toward the unknown. ♪

>> ready. mercury atlas is ready, and so is the astronaut. ♪ >> the countdown is under way at cape canaveral as all the world holds its breath and all the world is witness.ms, go. >> go. >> mercury capsule, go. the red light is on. godspeed john glenn. >> five, four, three, two, one. zero.

>> roger. the clock is operating. we're under way. >> read loud and clear. roger. we'll programming all okay. >> a little bumpy here. >> stand by for 20 seconds. roger. two, one -- mark. roger. ba backup clock is started. still. 102, 108. 100 amps. 2-7. >> roger. back-up clock is started. >> minus 7-0 on your mark. some vibration coming up here now. we're smoothing out some now, getting out of the vibration area. >> roger. flight path looks good.

pitch 25. stand by. >> roger. cannot see the tower go. i saw the smoke go by the window. >> roger. 1.5 gs. >> we got you. this is friendship 7. all the greats fired. okay. >> roger, 0-g. i feel fine. capsule is turning around. oh, that view is tremendous. >> roger. >> roger, capsule. turning around. and i can see the booster during turnaround, just a couple of hundred yards behind me. it was beautiful. >> the word is "go" and john glenn is go and with him go all of mankind's dreams of