SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Air & Space Museum in Balboa Park issued a statement Thursday mourning the death of John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth and the last surviving member of the original "Mercury Seven" astronauts.
"John Glenn was a true American hero who served his country with great distinction as a decorated Marine Corps fighter pilot and astronaut, as well as a United States Senator from the great state of Ohio," said Jim Kidrick, president and CEO of the museum. "As a member of the International Air & Space Hall of Fame, he will always hold a special place at the San Diego Air & Space Museum."
Glenn was enshrined in the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego museum in 1968.
IMAGES: John Glenn through the years
On October 29, 1998, Glenn became the oldest human to venture into space at age 77 as a payload specialist on Discovery mission STS-95.
He died Thursday at his home in Columbus, Ohio. Glenn was 95.
Sad to learn of the passing of #JohnGlenn . He was my first hero and I told him so in 1989 at the 1st Bush Inauguration. #TrueAmericanHero pic.twitter.com/ujoKzvp4mo
— Allison Ash (@10NewsAsh) December 9, 2016
