Feb. 14, 1962 - Storms in the Atlantic caused another postponement today in the attempt to send Lieut. Col. John H. Glenn Jr. into orbit about the earth. The launching was put off until 7:30 a.m. tomorrow at the earliest. It was the second postponement in two days and the ninth since the mission, the first U.S. attempt to orbit a human, was originally scheduled. Colonel Glenn, a 40-year-old Marine officer, was awakened in his crew’s quarters in Hangar “S” at Cape Canaveral at 1:05 a.m. and told of the new delay. Dr. William K. Douglas, flight surgeon for all seven astronauts in the Project Mercury program, gave him the news. Col. Glenn was reported in an official announcement to have indicated to Dr. Douglas that he was somewhat disappointed “but patiently watching the weather.” The astronaut chatted briefly with the doctor and went back to bed. Yesterday, when he got similar news at 2:15 a.m., he ate the pre-flight breakfast already prepared for him before going back to sleep. The postponement announcement early today told of “very strong gale winds, very rough seas” in the central Atlantic.
