JOHN GLENN’S CONTRIBUTION TO NASA’S SPACE PROGRAM HONORED AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER VISITOR COMPLEX

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Remembrance held in front of Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame^®

 A ceremony was held at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex this afternoon to honor NASA astronaut and Ohio Senator John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, who passed away on Dec. 8, at the age of 95.  Held in front of Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, the ceremony included remarks by space shuttle astronaut Jon McBride; Therrin Protze, chief operating officer, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex; and Robert Cabana, director of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, and space shuttle astronaut. The ceremony was attended by Apollo astronaut Al Worden and space shuttle astronaut Winston Scott.

“We at Delaware North join NASA and all Americans in mourning the loss of John Glenn, a legendary American hero who made invaluable contributions to the space program and to the country,” said Rick Abramson, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Delaware North, which operates Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for NASA.

The ceremony took place at 1:30 this afternoon and highlighted Glenn’s illustrious career as an astronaut pioneer as well as a national hero. Born in Ohio, Glenn flew combat missions in both World War II and the Korean War as a Marine aviator. As one of NASA’s original Mercury 7 astronauts, Glenn’s flight aboard Friendship 7 on February 20, 1962, launched America to the forefront of the space race. He continued to serve his country as a four-term Senator from Ohio. He was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1990. In 1998, at the age of 77, he flew on the STS-95 Discovery space shuttle flight, becoming the oldest human in space.

“The impact of John Glenn’s legacy will always be present for our visitors,” said Therrin Protze, chief operating officer of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. “He will be forever a pioneer who inspired the world. We are privileged to honor him and his invaluable contributions to his country and space exploration.”