Only people in their 40s and older remember the first time - an event so huge few people could speak or think of anything else. Life came as close as it could to standing still as the entire free world followed the flight of John Glenn. He was the first American to orbit the earth, and he gave freedom lovers everywhere a reason to feel pride.
The Soviet Union, which already had put two men into orbit, mocked preparations for the flight, then issued a statement saying it didn't think scientific achievements should be used to escalate the arms race.The world was a different place in 1962, and Glenn was a genuine hero. All that may be difficult to remember now as Glenn, at age 77, prepares to blast off as part of the crew of the space shuttle Discovery. No longer a fresh-faced Marine, Glenn is a four-term U.S. senator with a political record that, like all political records, pleases only part of the people. Some are even accusing him of using his congressional clout to finagle his way aboard Discovery.
But this is one current event that ought to remain partisan-free. Instead, it should be a celebratory event - a piece of history all Americans should savor.
Without John Glenn, NASA likely would not have enjoyed the successes it has seen through the years. The United States might have stayed far behind the Soviets and the moon might not have been explored.
Don't forget, at the time of Glenn's first flight, space travel presented a host of unknown dangers. Today, blasting off on a rocket still is a dangerous way to travel, but in those days - back when hardly anyone had done it - space travel required tremendous courage and bravery. Of all the senior citizens alive in the United States today, Glenn clearly is the best qualified to be part of a shuttle crew, political connections or not.
Beyond that, however, it doesn't hurt that Glenn's mission is attracting new excitement to the space program. Now that the technology is available to do things only dreamed of in 1962, NASA is having trouble finding public support. The space program, which has helped produce so many products that make life better on earth, no longer rouses public passion.
Glenn can change all that. Already, 150 reporters showed up for the beginning of the countdown - an event generally ignored these days. A crowd of 3,000 is expected for the launch, including about 70 members of Congress and the president.
Maybe life won't stand still again, the way it did when Glenn looked out the window of his capsule and said, "Oh, that view is tremendous." But the hearts of millions of freedom lovers worldwide once again will go with him as he orbits the earth. We add our voice to the chorus. Godspeed, John Glenn.