"John Glenn": The Human Fireball of Friendship 7 | The Kids History Podcast Inspired by Billy Joel

Ready for liftoff? In this episode of History Ignited, we’re shooting into the stars with the legendary John Glenn!

Long before humans lived on the International Space Station, the Space Race was heating up, and one man dared to do what no American had done before: orbit the entire Earth. Strap into the Friendship 7 capsule as we relive the mission that made John Glenn an instant American hero and a global icon of courage.

We’ll explore:

• The Race to Orbit: What it felt like to be a test pilot turned astronaut during the height of the Cold War.
• The Friendship 7 Mission: How John Glenn handled technical troubles and high-speed G-forces to make history.
• The Comeback Kid: How he defied the odds to return to space at age 77!

Whether you’re an aspiring astronaut or just love a good story of bravery, this is the episode for you. Let’s fire up the engines—history is about to take flight!

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About History Ignited:
History Ignited is the award-winning kids and family history podcast inspired by Billy Joel’s We Didn’t Start the Fire. Each short episode explores the real stories behind the people, events, inventions, and cultural moments that shaped the world from the 1950s through the 1980s. Winner of the 2025 Webby People’s Voice Award for Best Kids & Family Podcast.