Glenn , piloting the Mercury space capsule dubbed Friendship 7 , became the first American to orbit Earth on February 20 , 1962 , circling the planet three times in just under five hours . The first American to orbit the earth has undergone successful heart surgery . John Glenn also was a U.S . astronaut and is now in his 80s, but he still works as an engineer for NASA.
The first American to orbit the earth has undergone successful heart surgery . John Glenn also was a U.S . astronaut and is now in his 80s, but he still works as an engineer for NASA.