John Glenn Pictures: Astronaut And Former Ohio Senator’s Life In Photos [PHOTOS]

American astronaut and former Ohio senator John Glenn died Thursday at the age of 95.

Glenn was the first American astronaut with the Mercury “Friendship 7” spacecraft to orbit the globe on Feb. 20, 1962. As the fifth person ever to enter space, Glenn spent a total 4 hours, 55 minutes and 23 seconds during the inaugural space voyage and orbited the planet three times.

The former marine also served as Ohio’s Democratic U.S. senator for 24 years — from December 1974 to January 1999 — going on to become the oldest person ever, at 77, to leave earth’s atmosphere with his trip to space on Oct. 29, 1998, while he was still in office.

Glenn was receiving treatment at the James Cancer Hospital at Ohio State University for “more than a week,” a university spokesman told USA Today on Thursday. The spokesperson, however, did not say what Glenn was being treated for.

“John Glenn is, and always will be, Ohio’s ultimate hometown hero, and his passing today is an occasion for all of us to grieve,” said Ohio Governor John R. Kasich. “As we bow our heads and share our grief with his beloved wife, Annie, we must also turn to the skies, to salute his remarkable journeys and his long years of service to our state and nation. ”

Glenn, who is survived by his wife of 73 years, Annie Castor, 96, and two children, remained an important figure for the country throughout his life. Reflecting on his journey to space, Glenn was once quoted as saying: “If there is one thing I’ve learned in my years on this planet, it’s that the happiest and most fulfilled people I’ve known are those who devoted themselves to something bigger and more profound than merely their own self-interest."

Here are pictures depicting the astronaut and politician’s journey of 95 years: