John H. Glenn Jr., a decorated combat veteran and test pilot who gained worldwide fame as the first American to orbit the Earth, went on to become a U.S. senator and, in the autumn of his life, returned to space aboard the shuttle Discovery, has died. He was 95 years old. Glenn had been hospitalized at the Ohio State University James Cancer Center. Details of his illness were not disclosed. Soon after the confirmation of his death, NASA tweeted: “We are saddened by the loss of Sen. John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth. A true American hero. Godspeed, John Glenn. Ad astra.” President Obama issued a statement saying Glenn “lifted the hopes of a nation.” “With John’s passing, our nation has lost an icon and Michelle and I have lost a friend,” Obama said in a statement. “John spent his life breaking barriers, from defending our freedom as a decorated Marine Corps fighter pilot in World War II and Korea, to setting a transcontinental speed record, to becoming, at age 77, the oldest human to touch the stars. John always had the right stuff, inspiring generations of scientists, engineers and astronauts who will take us to Mars… Read full this story
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