"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 as he passed overhead. This gesture inspired Glenn to name
them the "City of Lights". Later this month when Glenn returns to space,
the residents of Perth plan on recreating the salute.
NASA told the Western Australian government (the state where Perth is
located) 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 on
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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