Questions and Answers
Who was the first American astronaut to orbit the Earth?
What is a space capsule?
The small sealed cabin in a space vehicle that protects people or animals going into space.
What was the name of the spacecraft flown by John Glenn during the first manned American space flight?
Friendship
What is Cape Canaveral known for?
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Which U.S. state was the 27th to be admitted and is located in the southeastern United States?
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What device was used to send John Glenn's space capsule into orbit?
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What is the Mississippi Delta?
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What are retrorockets used for?
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What is a test pilot?
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What is an astronaut?
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What is meant by outer space?
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What is an orbit?
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Study Notes
Key Figures and Terminology
- John Glenn achieved the milestone of being the first American to orbit Earth in 1962 aboard the Friendship spacecraft.
- Astronauts are key participants in space missions, serving as pilots and crew members within spacecraft.
Spacecraft and Technology
- The Friendship was the specific spacecraft utilized by John Glenn during this historic flight.
- A space capsule refers to the protective, small sealed cabin designed to transport astronauts or animals into space.
- The Atlas rocket was the powerful launch vehicle responsible for placing Glenn's space capsule into orbit.
Locations and Geography
- Cape Canaveral, originally known as Cape Kennedy, is a significant rocket launch site located on an island in eastern Florida.
- Florida was the 27th state to join the United States and is situated in the southeastern region of the country.
- The Mississippi Delta is a geographical feature at the mouth of the Mississippi River in Louisiana, known for its rich ecology and agriculture.
Space Travel Components
- Retrorockets are specialized small engines used to decelerate spacecraft, change trajectories, or facilitate stage separations during space missions.
- Outer space is defined as that vast region beyond Earth’s atmosphere, where spacecraft travel and celestial bodies exist.
- An orbit refers to the continuous circular path that Earth orbits around the Sun or in which any celestial body moves in space.
Aviation and Testing
- Test pilots are critical in aviation, flying new aircraft models to evaluate their performance and safety before they are used for commercial or military purposes.
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Description
Test your knowledge about John Glenn and the first American manned space flight with these flashcards. Learn important terms related to space travel and key historical events that shaped America's journey into space.