[PAR] [TLE] John Glenn [SEP] John Herschel Glenn Jr. (July 18, 1921 – December 8, 2016) was a United States Marine Corps aviator, engineer, astronaut, and United States Senator from Ohio.  In 1962 he became the first American to orbit the Earth, circling it three times. [PAR] [TLE] Orion abort modes [SEP] NASA's newest spacecraft, the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV), will be the first American spacecraft since Project Apollo to use an escape system in the event of a launch abort, something its predecessor, the Space Shuttle, had for only its first four orbital test flights in 1981-1982.  Like the Apollo Command-Service Module (CSM), the Orion CEV will use the Launch escape system (LES), a solid-fueled tractor rocket that will be able to pull the Orion crew module away from a malfunctioning Space Launch System (SLS) rocket during the initial launch phase.  Based on the launch escape system found on the Soviet/Russian Soyuz spacecraft, the LAS, designed and manufactured by ATK for the Orion CEV, will be larger than the Soyuz version and will have more thrust than the Atlas 109-D booster that carried astronaut John Glenn into orbit in 1962.
[PAR] [TLE] John Glenn [ SEP ] John Herschel Glenn Jr. ( July 18 , 1921 – December 8 , 2016 ) was a United States Marine Corps aviator , engineer , astronaut , and United States Senator from Ohio . In 1962 he became the first American to orbit the Earth , circling it three times . [PAR] [TLE] Orion abort modes [ SEP ] NASA 's newest spacecraft , the Orion Multi - Purpose Crew Vehicle ( MPCV ) , will be the first American spacecraft since Project Apollo to use an escape system in the event of a launch abort , something its predecessor , the Space Shuttle , had for only its first four orbital test flights in 1981 - 1982 . Like the Apollo Command - Service Module ( CSM ) , the Orion CEV will use the Launch escape system ( LES ) , a solid - fueled tractor rocket that will be able to pull the Orion crew module away from a malfunctioning Space Launch System ( SLS ) rocket during the initial launch phase . Based on the launch escape system found on the Soviet / Russian Soyuz spacecraft , the LAS , designed and manufactured by ATK for the Orion CEV , will be larger than the Soyuz version and will have more thrust than the Atlas 109-D booster that carried astronaut John Glenn into orbit in 1962 .
Which booster was used to send the 1st American into orbit?
Which booster was used to send the 1st American into orbit ?
Atlas 109-D booster
Atlas 109-D booster