Photograph of Astronaut John Glenn Being Helped into His Mark VI Pressure Suit, January 23, 1962
In this photo, Astronaut John Glenn is being helped into his Mark IV pressure suit by a team of technicians who are visible in the mirrors on his chest and wrists. The Mark IV protected astronauts against the danger of sudden cabin depressurization, but they were phased out during project Gemini because of the need for a suit that could support extravehicular activities. Though he retired from NASA after Project Mercury, Glenn made an unprecedented return to space exploration when he became the oldest man in orbit aboard the space shuttle Discovery at the age of 77. During his hiatus from spaceflight, Glenn served the people of Ohio as a U.S. Senator for twenty five years.
Photograph of Astronaut John Glenn Being Helped into His Mark VI Pressure Suit, January 23, 1962; Records of the U.S. Senate, RG 46.
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