"City of Lights" to Recreate Greeting
News story originally written on October 20, 1998
When
John Glenn became the
first American to orbit the Earth, the city of Perth, Australia, turned on
their lights to salute him as he passed overhead. He cristened them the
"City of Lights". Later this month when Glenn returns to space, the
residents of Perth plan on recreating the gesture.
NASA has advised the Western Australian government when the Space Shuttle
Discovery will make its closest approach--about
12:32 a.m. local time on October 31. Residents of Perth are asked to help
recreate the salute by turning their lights at that time.
One drawback is that Discovery will pass further to the north of Perth
than Friendship 7 did in 1962. Another possible problem is that the
weather might not be as clear the second time around.
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