Astronaut John Glenn removes his protective boots before entering the Friendship 7 space capsule.

The transcript describes John Glenn's careful entry into the Friendship 7 Mercury capsule, a spacecraft he named himself. The routine is briefly interrupted as Glenn shares a moment of camaraderie by clasping an outstretched hand before breaking the bond, symbolizing a gesture of goodwill and readiness for the mission ahead.

What does the astronaut do with the outstretched hand?

What happens after the astronaut holds the hand?