On Thursday, December 8th, the first astronaut to orbit the Earth and a longtime US senator, died. John Glenn, whose death was announced by Ohio State University, died where he was being treated at the James Cancer Hospital. He was 95 years old. Glenn had experienced a number of health issues in the last few years of his life, including a heart-valve replacement surgery and a stroke two years ago. John Glenn made three orbits around Earth and spent five hours in space in his Mercury-Atlas 6 “Friendship 7” spacecraft. His work helped pave the way for later space exploration. Glenn also served in the U.S. Senate for his birthplace of Ohio from 1974 to 1999.  Glenn returned to space in 1998 and became the oldest person to fly in space.

“We are saddened by the loss of Sen. John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth. A true American hero,” NASA said. “Godspeed, John Glenn. Ad astra [to the stars].”