February 20 Birthday
February 20, 1962: John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth, circling three times in a Friendship 7 capsule that was so small he could not straighten his arms fully. During the second orbit, a warning light indicated the heat shield was loose. Mission Control debated whether to keep the retro-pack on during reentry to hold the shield in place. It was a risky call. They kept it on. The light was a false alarm, but Glenn survived the fiery reentry and became a national hero. He returned to space at age 77, making him the oldest person to fly in orbit. People born on February 20 fall under the zodiac sign of Pisces. The birthstone is Amethyst and the birth flower is Violet. Historical events on February 20 include 1962: John Glenn orbits Earth, 1986: Soviet Union launches Mir space station, 1998: Tony Blair launches NHS Direct. Famous people born on February 20 include Ansel Adams (1902), Sidney Poitier (1927), Rihanna (1988).