Quote:

Wouldn't it be great if, in 2012, on the 50th anniversary of John Glenn's solo flight in the
Friendship 7 Mercury capsule to become the first American to orbit the Earth, we celebrated by
recreating that achievement? And wouldn't it be great if we did it with private contributions
and resources, at least as much as possible?

Russell, 54, is a former Air Force and cargo jet pilot now retired and living in Madison. He
formed a nonprofit organization called Americans in Orbit-50 Years to get his plan moving.

His plan? Raise money to buy a rocket; refurbish one of the old Mercury capsules that never
flew or else build one; put it atop the rocket; then launch, orbit and splash down.

http://collectspace.com/ubb/Forum29/HTML/000873.html