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Themes: "Faith, Christ the Savior D.D. He was going to a place no American had ever been to before. Everyone was filled with suspense as they thought about his long trip.
On February 20, 1962, all across the nation, people stopped working and kids in school closed their books to watch and listen. In New York City a huge TV screen was set up at Grand Central Station, where 9000 people watched anxiously.
Scientists helped him put on a special, silver colored suit and helmet. The smallest tear in this suit would endanger his life.
Arriving at the launching pad, the launch crew wished him well. Slowly he squeezed, feet first, into the cabin of Friendship 7. The he said a final goodbye to his wife and children on the telephone.
Everything was ready. Then:10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1-LIFTOFF!
50,000 people stood on the beach at Cape Canaveral and watched the thundering rocket ride its fiery red tail and carry Colonel John Glenn into orbit. Within moments it had blasted out of sight, leaving behind only a thin ribbon of vapor floating in the blue sky. Nobody on the ground was shouting or cheering. Everyone was wondering if Colonel Glenn would ever return. He was a brave man to travel into space alone.
At 100 miles up. when the capsule was in orbit, Colonel Glenn looked out the window, back at planet earth. He radioed that the view was tremendous! The capsule went around the earth 3 times, a distance of 75,000 miles, traveling at a speed of 17,530 miles and hour.
After almost 5 hours in space, it was time to return to earth. This was the most dangerous part of the whole trip. Re-entry into the earth's atmosphere causes tremendous heat to build up around the space capsule. The engineers had put a heat shield on the capsule, but they were afraid it had come loose. If that shield came off, the capsule might burn up on re-entry. Colonel Glenn tried to remain calm as he watched flaming pieces go by his window and the capsule glowed a bright red. Then suddenly all radio contact was lost!
Everyone at mission control waited in suspense, when at last Colonel Glenn's voice crackled over the radio,"Boy, that was a real fireball!"
A huge orange and white parachute opened, and within minutes the capsule and Colonel Glenn splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean. When Colonel Glenn climbed out of the capsule, people shouted for joy! He made it!
John Glenn trusted in the skill of scientists and engineers for his journey into space. Caleb trusted the Lord for his journey into the promised land. The Lord Jesus is the only one you and I can trust to take us to heaven. He said, "...whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).
No one else can bring sinners to God. The great purpose of His sufferings on Calvary were: Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18).
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Peter Orasuk
