Idaho Skies Transcript for October 27th, 28th, and 29th

RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for October 27th, 28th, and 29th. We’re your hosts, Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
On October 29th, 1998, John Glenn junior traveled back into Earth orbit onboard the Space Shuttle Discovery.

PAUL
This was the 92nd mission of the Space Transportation System, or STS.

RACHEL
And the 25th flight of Discovery.

PAUL
At 77 years old, Glenn is still the oldest person to travel into space.

RACHEL
However, John Glenn was no stranger to Earth orbit.

PAUL
That’s right. He was the first American to travel into orbit back on February 20th, 1962.

RACHEL
Glenn was actually the third American to travel into space.

PAUL
His two predecessors were Alan Shepard and Gus Grissom.

RACHEL
But the Mercury capsules of Shepard and Grissom were launched on top of the Redstone Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile, or IRBM.

PAUL
Their Redstone boosters were modified with extended propellant tanks to increase their final velocity.

RACHEL
But the Redstone still didn’t have the energy to put a nearly 3,000 pound Mercury capsule into orbit.

PAUL
It took the more powerful Atlas Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, or ICBM to give the Mercury capsule enough velocity to achieve orbit.

RACHEL
Glenn spent four and a half hours making three orbits of Earth in 1962.

PAUL
Before he was to slow his capsule down for reentry, technicians on the ground received distressing telemetry.

RACHEL
The telemetry indicated the possibly of a loose heat shield on Glenn’s capsule.

PAUL
Fortunately, it was a problem with a switch in contact with the heat shield and not the heat shield itself.

RACHEL
So John Glenn safely returned to Earth and became a true American hero.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the 27th, 28th and 29th of October.

RACHEL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com.

For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.