What mission did John Glenn undertake in February 1962?

In February 1962, John Glenn embarked on the Friendship 7 mission, which was significant for several reasons. This mission made Glenn the first American to orbit the Earth, completing three orbits around the planet. The spacecraft, Friendship 7, was part of NASA's Mercury program, which aimed to demonstrate the capability of human spaceflight and gather data on the effects of space travel on the human body.

The successful completion of the Friendship 7 mission played a crucial role in boosting American morale during the Cold War, particularly in the space race against the Soviet Union. It showcased the technological capabilities of the United States and helped pave the way for future manned missions. John Glenn's journey illustrated not only the possibilities of human space exploration but also the importance of international competition in advancing space technology and exploration.

In contrast, the other missions listed are from different programs or are associated with different astronauts. Apollo 11 is well-known for landing humans on the Moon in 1969, Gemini 6 was part of the Gemini program focused on testing rendezvous techniques in 1965, and Vostok 1 was the first human spaceflight made by Yuri Gagarin in 1961. Each of these missions is significant in its own right