Exactly 40 years after becoming the first American to orbit the Earth, John Glenn will deliver the 2002 Wernher von Braun Memorial Lecture at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum on Feb. 20 at 8 p.m. in the Langley IMAX® Theater.

One of America's seven original astronauts, Glenn will share personal recollections of the early years of manned spaceflight, in which the United States and Soviet Union raced each other to the moon. The former U. S. senator and Marine fighter pilot will also look back on his return to space in 1998 when, at the age of 77, he became the oldest person ever to experience zero gravity.

John Glenn was the 2001 National Air and Space Museum Trophy winner for Lifetime Achievement.

"Friendship 7," the Mercury spacecraft flown by Glenn in 1962 and one of the museum's most popular artifacts, will be available for public viewing the night of the lecture. The museum will also distribute to audience members a special commemorative pin for the 40th anniversary of Glenn's first spaceflight. All tickets for this event, part of the museum's ongoing 25th anniversary celebration, have been distributed.

The 2002 Wernher von Braun Memorial Lecture is made possible by The Boeing Company.

NOTE TO EDITORS: All tickets for this lecture have been distributed. To cover this event, please call (202) 633-2370