The Kennedy Space Center hosted several events to celebrate 50 years of Americans in orbit. John Glenn, the first to achieve the goal, made his three-orbit flight in Friendship 7 on February 20, 1962. Three months later, fellow Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter followed Glenn with his flight aboard Aurora 7 on May 24, 1962. Glenn and Carpenter spoke to employees and met with the media sharing stories about their adventures. Glenn also received a congratulatory message from the crew aboard The International Space Station during an in-flight call at the NASA Future Forum at the Ohio State University. Also, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Deputy Administrator Lori Garver visit field centers to speak with employees about the 2013 budget, testing of a future aircraft concept model, a Reduced Gravity Flight for Educators and Students, Movement on the Moon, Rockets to Race Cars and more.
