50 years ago today the above words were sent by radio to Friendship 7. Scott Carpenter, the backup astronaut for the mission, uttered the phrase most associated with man’s first orbit of the Earth. As mission control performed its final system checks, test conductor Tom O’Malley initiated the launch sequence, adding a personal prayer, “May the good Lord ride all the way,” to which Carpenter added, “Godspeed, John Glenn.” Carpenter later explained that he had come up with the phrase on the spot, but the phrase did have meaning for any test pilot and astronaut: “In those days, speed was magic…and nobody had gone that fast. If you can get that speed, you’re home-free.” The phrase became part of the public consciousness, however Glenn himself didn’t hear Carpenter’s comment until he had returned to Earth. Due to a glitch in Glenn’s radio, Carpenter’s microphone wasn’t on his frequency. Read the more about the momentous events of February 20, 1962 http://www.history.com/news/2012/02/20/7-things-you-may-notknow-about-john-glenn-and-friendship-7/ _______________________________________________ IRCA mailing list [email protected] http://montreal.kotalampi.com/mailman/listinfo/irca
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