TODAY IN HISTORY

Glenn

FEBRUARY 20

1962:Astronaut John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the Earth, spending nearly five hours in space aboard the Friendship 7 space capsule. Because of a malfunction, Glenn is forced to manually control the capsule rather than rely on automatic controls.

1792: President George Washington signs the Postal Service Act, formally creating the U.S. Postal Service. The law prohibits officials from opening private mail, sets out postal routes and establishes standard postage costs. The rate for a single page letter delivered within 30 miles is 6 cents. That's about $1.41 in today's dollars.

1949: Eight-year-old Ricky Nelson and 12-year-old David Nelson join the cast of their parents' hit NBC Radio show, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, playing themselves in the episode "Invitation to Dinner." Ricky would go on to enjoy a successful career as a singer-songwriter until he died in a plane crash on New Year's Eve 1985; David would continue acting, directing and producing until shortly before his death last year.