h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: John Glenn - Astronaut, Politician and Pilot - A1145765
Author: Jodan - Mining 42 - Watching Forrest Gump... again - U201497

One of my favorite Ohioans

Any ideas on a new title? I'd hate to just confine him to one of those things, but I don't remember the formula for this kind of title.

Two minor points;
1.) Pearl Harbor was attacked on 7 December 1941 ( the date that will live in infamy), you appear to be listing it as 1942, a slight revision might br to list both years one as the attack and the other as Glenn's enlistment.

2.) John F. Kennedy was killed on 22 November 1963 and you state Glenn left NASA in 1964, therefore it would be difficult for JFK to have advised him about anything after he left NASA.

He joined shortly after Pearl Harbor in 1943. This means that he joined the services in 1943, this is not to say that Pearl Harbor happened in 1943. In fact, it happened in December, so he could have joined a month after Pearl Harbor and it would have been in 1943. I'll add a footnote or something

I'll look into your second point

Oop, I meant 1942 in that last post

Corrected I guess one of my sources was wrong I'm going over the stuff I got from there now...

Hi Jodan,

This is a great article. Ed Harris' portrayal of JG in the "Right Stuff" really made him out to be an extraordinary individual. You have done a very good job in providing an outline to his career here.

On a general point, I wonder if you might have spent too much time on his war career, and maybe not enough on his really memorable achievements? He is truly famous for being one of the Mercury 7, the first American to orbit the earth, and the oldest man (to date) in space, so perhaps these should be particularly elaborated on.

Small (tiny) points below :-

"As Glenn made a military career" Can you say this? I dunno.. It seems like it might need to be rephrased somewhat.

"One day, Glenn had a very close call" - one day in what year?

F86's, MiG's, Vought F8U - would everybody know what this terminology means?

"Mercury Flight, which turned out to be NASA's preferred flight" - I didn't understand what you meant by NASA's preferred flight. Can you explain?

"When Robert Kennedy was assassinated in 1968, Glenn was present" - where? In the hotel in L.A.? Or did you mean something else?

During his 1962 orbit he famously saw what he thought were fireflies outside the cabin (they turned out to be ice crystals), and the phrase "God speed, John Glenn" has become somewhat iconical. I don't know if you want to mention that.

That's all the changes I can think of. Well done!

Woodpigeon

I thought that I might have spent too much time on his war career, but it is an important part of his life and provides for more details than Space missions, which were relatively one dimension.

I'm working on your points now

Thanks Woodpigeon. I added a bit of detail and took care of your points (I believe)

That was fast!

Yep, that helps - one point I would make would be the bit about the career. I would drop the sentence and say instead, "At the outset of the Korean War, Glenn flew F9F Panthers....". It seems to read better.

Also "Rise of a Pilot" - should you say "Rise of an Astronaut", since he already was a pilot? Again its just a small thing.

Finally the thing about "God speed" - it reads better if you say "The phrase 'God Speed John Glenn' became embedded in American folklore."

I'm stopping now, as I think I am in a very pedantic mood tonight and I am truly aware that these are real nitpicks!

Have a good night / evening!

Woodpigeon

I don't want to say Rise of an Astronaut because he is rising as a pilot to an astronaut. Plus, Glenn was a pilot as an astronaut

I'll work on it

Jodan - LOON - A1095716

"Glenn was a pilot as an astronaut "


Since the Mercury astronauts had control over little else than their bladders and the explosive bolts on the door, it might be a stretch to suggest that they did much piloting.

And now, to the entry:

"never went back in for a second chance again" This just seems to be begging for some sort of witty connection to the fact that he did finally get a second chance at space. I'm not sure how to do it, however.

"During his ascention into orbit" That's not how I spell "ascension".

"piloted the Mercury-Atlas 6, better known as 'Friendship 7' around the Earth three times," Wasn't the Atlas 6 the model of booster that put the Mercury capsule into orbit? The booster (if it did go into orbit rather than dropping into the sea) did not continue with Glenn around the earth. Maybe you know more than I do and the model of Mercury capsule that was put on the Atlas 6 was called the "Mercury-Atlas 6" and I should shut up.

>>I should shut up

*looks hopefully* You're right, as ever anhaga. I know about Glenn, not the Mercury-Atlas 6...

I'll work on it in a few minutes

I think the word is "ascent" into orbit. "Ascension" is a religious term - you need to die first apparently

Woodpigeon

Hold on... I'll check

Ascension is something that saints do. Maybe Jodan thinks it's appropriate for John Glenn.

So you were wrong?! I'll change it back, I guess

All we have in Ohio is Glenn and the Wright Brothers- and god knows I've written enough on the Wrights!

No, no, no. I wasn't wrong. Ascention isn't a word. Woodpigeon is right as well: it should be "ascent".

I think I figured out which entry I was thinking of. But you know that by now.

I thought that Neil Armstrong was from Ohio?

Yeah, but I prefer Glenn and the Wrights

Guess...