John Glenn had one of the most unusual American careers of the 20th century — war hero, test pilot, astronaut, and U.S. senator.

Career highlights:

1. Marine Corps combat pilot (WWII & Korea)

• Flew 59 combat missions in World War II in the Pacific.

• Flew 90 missions in Korea.

• Shot down 3 MiG-15s in the Korean War, earning the nickname “MiG Mad Marine.”    

2. Record-setting test pilot (1957)

• Made the first supersonic transcontinental flight across the U.S. (“Project Bullet”) in just over 3 hours 23 minutes, setting a speed record.

3. Mercury Seven astronaut (1959)

• Selected as one of NASA’s original Mercury Seven, America’s first astronaut class.

4. First American to orbit Earth (1962)

• Piloted Friendship 7 on February 20, 1962.

• Completed 3 Earth orbits in under 5 hours.

• This was one of the biggest early American wins in the Space Race.    

5. U.S. Senator from Ohio (1974–1999)

• Served 24 years in the U.S. Senate.

• Worked on nuclear nonproliferation, science policy, and government oversight.

6. Returned to space at age 77 (1998)

• Flew on Space Shuttle Discovery, becoming the oldest person to go to space at that time.

• Participated in aging and human physiology research.

Major honors:

• Multiple Distinguished Flying Crosses

• Congressional Space Medal of Honor

• NASA Distinguished Service Medal

• Presidential Medal of Freedom (2012)