John Glenn's trip came 10 months after a Russian circled the Earth

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The first American to orbit the Earth has landed safely in the Atlantic Ocean.

Marine Lieutenant John Glenn, 40, travelled about 81,000 miles (more than 130,000km) as he circled the globe three times at more than 17,000 mph (27,000kph).

Colonel Glenn controlled nearly two of the orbits himself after reporting "minor difficulties" with the automatic altitude control system as he completed the third circuit - the maximum anticipated.

Messages from the astronaut were transmitted by radio stations across the United States and United Kingdom and his progress was monitored by 18 ground stations around the world.

As he re-entered the atmosphere after his four-hour and 56-minute journey Colonel Glenn said: "Boy, that was a real fireball."

His spacecraft, Friendship Seven, landed at 2040 GMT 240 miles north-west of Puerto Rico, where it was picked up by the US destroyer Noa.

Altogether, 24 American ships were ready to pick up the astronaut and his craft from various locations across the globe.

The capsule was launched from the flaming Atlas rocket at 1447 GMT from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

President Kennedy followed the mission on television and telephoned the astronaut afterwards.

"We are really proud of you. You did a wonderful job," he said.

The Queen and British Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan, also cabled their congratulations.

Technical problems had delayed the mission 10 times - a total of 61 days.

The US has spent over ?42m on the man-in-space programme so far and Nasa has planned another three manned orbital flights this year.

The US Earth orbit took place 10 months and 10 days after Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first man in space, making one circulation of the globe.

Jamie was last seen on CCTV in the Strand Shopping Centre, Bootle

The toddler went missing from the Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle last Friday and his body was found on a railway embankment less than three miles away two days later, on 14 February.

The two suspects were arrested two days ago and are being held at different police stations with their mothers and lawyers.

When they appear before South Sefton Magistrates Court - a quarter of a mile from where James was abducted - tomorrow, they will be among the youngest people to face murder charges in the British courts.

Other members of the boys' families have been moved to secret addresses to protect them from possible reprisals.

Police issued a statement saying the pair had also been charged - at 1840GMT - with the attempted abduction of another two-year-old and were being held in police detention under section 59 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991.

It looks likely they will be remanded into some form of care or custody before the case is tried by a judge and jury at crown court.

Officers are consulting the local council over the welfare of the boys.

Bulger family solicitor Sean Sexton said: "The family are of course relieved at the progress that has been made. They are still trying to come to terms with the situation."

"We should like to thank the police and public for their support," he continued, asking for the privacy of the family to be respected and saying there would be no further statement.

Hundreds of flowers have been heaped around the entrance to the shopping centre where James was last seen, on security video, being led away.

And over ?,000 of public donations has been collected and given to the Bulger family.

The 35,000 people at Liverpool Football Club's Anfield ground stood for a minute's silence before the game against Ipswich Town today.

abduction : the criminal act of capturing and carrying away by force a family member（诱导；诱拐）