1921-2021 = centenary of human space travelers

These three men – Joe Walker, Georgiy Beregovoy, and John Glenn – were all born in 1921, which makes them the first-born children of Earth to later fly into space. You can easily find their individual detailed biographies on line. The most intriguing contemporary angle is how they represented a spectrum of programs and players -- both US and USSR, both orbital and up-down vehicles. Walker made three flights in the X-15, first above the 50 mile official USAF boundary of space, and two more above the international 100 km boundary, altitudes which today's commercial passenger carriers intend to cross in the very near future [they should explicitly dedicate such initial flights to Walker, perhaps!].  On another theme, Beregovoy was the oldest to-date spaceman when he flew [47], and Glenn's second flight set a record for oldest ever -- which commercial carriers might also stress in seeking future paying passengers. Their birth a hundred years ago would mark the epochal human species shift away from everyone being forever earthbound – they would become the first exceptions. Worth celebrating!

a reply to: JimOberg

“The most important thing we can do is inspire young minds and to advance the kind of science, math and technology education that will help youngsters take us to the next phase of space travel."
John Glenn

"The feeling o unity of mankind has nothing mystical about it. It is a natural consequence of man's going out into Space where he has acutely realized that he innately belongs to Earth."
Georgy Beregovoy

a reply to: JimOberg

Yuri Gagarin was the first space traveler was he not ?

originally posted by: alldaylong
a reply to: JimOberg

Yuri Gagarin was the first space traveler was he not ?

He was the first, but he was younger than the three named in the OP.