CLEVELAND – NASA’s Glenn Research Center and the Cleveland Indians will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sen. John Glenn’s orbital flight at Progressive Field on Sunday, Aug. 26. Fans will be able to explore NASA exhibits that highlight contributions to space exploration in the Kids Clubhouse starting at 11 a.m.
The celebration of Glenn’s historic flight aboard Friendship 7 spacecraft begins at 12:30 p.m., prior to the 1:05 p.m. start of the game between the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees. Sen. Glenn will be on the field with NASA Glenn Director Ray Lugo, Ohio astronaut Mike Foreman and a Cleveland Indians representative for a presentation of a commemorative plaque and an Indians jersey.
Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, completed a successful three-orbit, five-hour flight on Feb. 20, 1962.
Foreman, a native of Wadsworth, Ohio and veteran of two spaceflights, flew on STS-123 in March 2008, and STS-129 in November 2009. He has logged over 637 hours in space, including 32 hours and 19 minutes during five spacewalks.
Foreman will sign autographs for fans in the NASA exhibits area from 11:30 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 2 p.m.
Senator Glenn will be available to speak with interested media in the Indians dugout at noon. Contact Anne Keegan at akeegan@indians.com or 216-420-4432 for credentials.
For biographical data on John Glenn, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/bios/glennbio.html
For biographical data on Mike Foreman, visit: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/foreman.html
For biographical data on Ray Lugo, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/bios/lugo_bio.html
For more information about Glenn Research Center, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn
For more information on the Cleveland Indians, visit: http://www.indians.com
