YearrooWhen did John Glenn become the first American to orbit Earth?
196220th century · 1900s
John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit Earth.
He went around three times in under five hours.
1962
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Around the same time
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- When was the Berlin Wall built?1961
- When did Alan Shepard become the first American in space?1961
- When was the Cuban Missile Crisis?1962
- When did Walmart open its first store?1962
- When did the Beatles release their first album?1963
- When did Martin Luther King Jr. give his 'I Have a Dream' speech?1963
- When was President John F. Kennedy assassinated?1963
Some events played out over months or years, so we use the year they are best known for. Spotted a mistake? Email [email protected].