NASA left concerned after astronaut described sight he’d ‘never seen before’ during space trip
tyla.com • • science
Key Points:
- In 1962, astronaut John Glenn became the first American to orbit Earth aboard Friendship 7, witnessing a unique phenomenon of glowing, firefly-like particles swirling around his spacecraft.
- Glenn described the particles as small, luminescent objects moving slowly alongside the capsule, visible just after sunset and disappearing with the sunrise.
- NASA initially worried the particles might pose a risk but later identified them as tiny ice particles illuminated by sunlight at specific angles.
- This phenomenon was confirmed by subsequent astronauts, making Glenn's observation a notable early spaceflight experience during the U.S.-Soviet space race.
- Glenn's vivid description of the "magical swarm of fireflies" remains a memorable story highlighting the wonders of space exploration.
