On February 20, 1962, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth during the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission, named Friendship 7. He completed three orbits around the planet, traveling at speeds of about 17,500 miles per hour. The flight lasted approximately 4 hours and 55 minutes. Glenn's successful mission marked a significant achievement for the United States in the Space Race against the Soviet Union. It demonstrated the capabilities of American space technology and helped pave the way for future manned space missions, contributing to the eventual goal of landing on the Moon.