CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -The Soviets next kept a cosmonaut in space for a full day. On Feb. 20, 1962, astronaut John H. Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth during the three-orbit Mercury-Atlas 6 mission, aboard the spacecraft he named Friendship 7.

Detailed explanation-2: -John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth on February 20, 1962, 60 years ago today. In 4 hours and 55 minutes, he circled the globe three times in his space capsule Friendship 7. The feat made Glenn a national hero and a household name.