February 20 -- John Glenn , aboard the space capsule Friendship 7 , is launched into an orbital spaceflight by a Mercury - Atlas 6 rocket .
February 20 -- John Glenn , aboard the space capsule Friendship 7 , is becomes the first American to orbit the Earth .
February 20 -- John Glenn , aboard the space capsule Friendship 7 , is launched into an orbital spaceflight by a Mercury - Atlas 6 rocket and becomes the first American to orbit the Earth .