Own This Set of Silk Covers Honoring John Glenn's Return to Space

 This cover commemorates the launch and return of John Glenn's space journey aboard a Space Shuttle.  The Project Mercury (#1193) and Flag Over Porch stamps are tied to the cover with commemorative postmarks from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

John Glenn made the first successful orbital flight aboard the Friendship 7 space capsule on February 20, 1962. The postmark on this card commemorates the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery, with Glenn as one of the astronauts aboard.  At 77 years old, he became the oldest person to travel in space.

In April 1959, Glenn was one of seven men were chosen to take part in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Project Mercury.  He was selected for the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission to become the first American to orbit the Earth.  On February 20, 1962, he was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, broke through Earth’s atmosphere, and circled the globe for four hours, 55 minutes.  Glenn made three orbits before a heating problem forced an early landing.  Upon his return, astronaut John Glenn was a national hero, with his own ticker-tape parade and a service medal awarded by President Kennedy.

Decades later, Glenn returned to space to participate in research into how space flight affected older people.  During the nine-day mission, his sleep patterns and use of protein were monitored.

This set of two covers is a fitting tribute to one of America's first and oldest astronauts and will make a neat addition to your collection.