Blue Origin's rocket naming tradition pays tribute to pioneering NASA astronauts, with the latest addition being the 'New Glenn' rocket. Named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth in 1962 aboard NASA's Friendship 7 capsule, this rocket symbolizes the legacy of the Mercury program that laid the groundwork for the US moon landing missions.
John Glenn's remarkable career extended beyond space exploration, as he also served as a US senator for nearly 25 years. In a historic feat, Glenn returned to space at the age of 77 aboard NASA's Space Shuttle Discovery in 1998, setting a record as the oldest person to reach orbit.
