Drones will commemorate astronaut John Glenn’s flight over Perth.

THREE hundred drones will take to the skies above Elizabeth Quay this Saturday February 19 to celebrate 60 years since astronaut John Glenn spotted our city from space.

Perth council’s been gearing up for the celebration as part of lord mayor Basil Zempilas push for Perth to take back its mantle of being known as the “City of Lights”. 

The $175,000 event will take place a day before the official February 20 date when Lt Col Glenn undertook his five-hour mission. 

At the time NASA didn’t know how well the human body would function in space and they wondered if his eyes would even be able to focus. But he reported to ground control: “Just to my right I can see a big pattern of lights, apparently right on the coast. I can see the outline of a town and a very bright light just to the south of it,” Perth and Rockingham.

Perth’s residents had turned on all the lights they could in hopes he’d catch a glimpse.

Mr Zempilas said “Light denotes action, safety, ideas, illumination of our landmarks, the whole shebang. 

“Perth has daylight in spades, as well as Skyworks, the Christmas Lights Trail and so much more. We are a city synonymous with light and no city lights up like Perth.”

The event’s free and there’s food trucks and roving entertainment around Elizabeth Quay from 5pm and the drones start glowing at 8pm.