HOUSTON, TX - Sen. John H. Glenn (D.-OH) poses for an informal portrait at the Johnson Space Center on the 36th anniversary of his Earth-orbital flight of Feb. 20, 1998. Glenn will begin training soon to fly aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery later in the year.
NASA Announces New Class Of Astronaut Candidates
CHANTILLY, VA - MAY 6: Former U.S. Senator and astronaut John Glenn talks with Emily Savino (2nd R) during a Space Day event at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center MAy 6, 2004 in Chantilly, Virginia. About 1,000 local 6th graders took part in a Space Day celebration at the center. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
President Bill Clinton With Senator John Glenn
ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, UNITED STATES: US President Bill Clinton (R), Senator John Glenn(C) (D-OH) and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Hugh Shelton (L) watch a Joint Services Fly over during an Armed Forces Day event at Andrews Air Force Base 19 May, 2000 in Maryland. (Photo: TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images)
Astronaut John Glenn
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, UNITED STATES: Astronaut John Glenn (R) answers questions from the media at the Kennedy Space Center, FL 08 November as the rest of the crew of the Shuttle Discovery listen. (R-L) Glenn, Chiaki Mukai of Japan, Pedro Duque of Spain, Scott Parazynski, Stephen Robinson, Pilot Steve Lindsey and Commander Curt Brown. The Shuttle Discovery landed at Kennedy Space Center 07 November after a nine-day science mission. (Photo; TONY RANZE/AFP/Getty Images)
The crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, UNITED STATES: The crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery walk to the astronaut van to drive to the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center, Florida 29 October as NASA prepares for the launch of the shuttle. From left are Scott Parazynski, Pilot Steve Lindsey, Chiaki Mukai, Stephen Robinson, Pedro Duque, John Glenn and Commander Curt Brown. (Photo: BOB PEARSON/AFP/Getty Images)
The crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, UNITED STATES: The crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery (front row) Payload Specialist Chiaki Mukai and Mission Commander Curt Brown; (middle row) Pilot Steve Lindsey and Payload Specialist John Glenn; (back row) Mission Specialist Scott Parazynski, Mission Specialist Stephen Robinson and Mission Specialist Pedro Duque depart the Operations & Checkout building and head to the Space Shuttle Discovery to begin their mission into space from the Kennedy Space Center, FL 29 October. Glenn, 77, a Payload specialist on Discovery was the first American to orbit the earth in 1962. Discovery's crew will conduct a variety of science experiments in the pressurized SPACEHAB module and deployment and retrieval of the Spartan free-flyer payload. (Photo: TONY RANZE/AFP/Getty Images)
Astronaut and Senator John Glenn
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, UNITED STATES: US astronaut and Senator John Glenn waves to journalists as he leaves the Operations and Checkout building at the Kennedy Space Center 29 October in route to board the US Space Shuttle Discovery. The seven-person crew will perform several scientific experiments during their nine-day mission, including studies on the effects of weightlessness on the 77-year-old Glenn. Glenn will be the oldest man to fly into space. (Photo: ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP/Getty Images)
The crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, UNITED STATES: The crew of the Space Shuttle Discovery (front row) Payload Specialist Chiaki Mukai and Mission Commander Curt Brown; Payload Specialist John Glenn; (C) and Mission Specialist Pedro Duque depart the Operations & Checkout building and head to the Space Shuttle Discovery to begin their mission into space from the Kennedy Space Center, FL 29 October 1998. Glenn, 77, a Payload specialist on Discovery was the first American to orbit the earth in 1962. Discovery's crew will conduct a variety of science experiments in the pressurized SPACEHAB module and deployment and retrieval of the Spartan free-flyer payload. (Photo: TONY RANZE/AFP/Getty Images)
Crew members of the space shuttle Discovery
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL - OCTOBER 28: Crew members of the space shuttle Discovery wave 28 October to friends and relatives at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Left to right are Scott Parazynski, Chiaki Mukai of Japan, John Glenn, Stephen Robinson, Pilot Steve Lindsey, Commander Curt Brown and Pedro Duque of Spain. The crew will perform several scientific experiments during their nine day mission, including studies on the effects of weightlessness on 77-year-old Glenn. Discovery is scheduled to launch 29 October. (Photo:: GEORGE SCHELTON/AFP/Getty Images)
Global VIP's Attend Clinton Global Initiative
Former astronaut John Glenn looks on at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) on September 24, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
US Mercury program astronauts in their space suits
US Mercury program astronauts in their space suits pose for a family picture in 1962. 1rst row from left to right : Walter M. "Wally" Schirra, Donald K. "Deke" Slayton, John Glenn, Scott Carpenter ; 2nd row from left to right : Alan Shepard, Virgil Grissom, Gordon Cooper. AFP PHOTO NASA (Photo credit should read /AFP/Getty Images)
50th anniversary Of First American to Orbit Earth
COLUMBUS, OHIO - FEBRUARY 20: In this handout provided by NASA, former U.S. Sen. and astronaut John Glenn poses for a portrait shortly after doing live television interviews from the Ohio State University Union building on February 20, 2012 in Columbus, Ohio. Today marks the 50th anniversary of Glenn's historic flight as the first American to orbit Earth. (Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)
50th anniversary Of First American to Orbit Earth
COLUMBUS, OHIO - FEBRUARY 20: In this handout provided by NASA, former U.S. Sen. and astronaut John Glenn and NASA Administrator Charles Bolden address questions from the press during a briefing at Ohio State University on February 20, 2012 in Columbus, Ohio. Today marks the 50th anniversary of Glenn's historic flight as the first American to orbit Earth. (Photo by Bill Ingalls/NASA via Getty Images)
Former Senator and Astronaut John Glenn
Former US Senator and Astronaut John Glenn leaves after speaking during a transfer ceremony for the Space Shuttle Discovery at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, on April 19, 2012, as the Shuttle is officially received by the museum and will be placed on permanent display. Discovery is the first spaceship of the retired US shuttle fleet to enter its permanent home as a museum artifact, replacing the prototype Space Shuttle Enterprise, which will be moved to a museum in New York. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
Space Shuttle Discovery Arrives In DC Area, To Be Permanently Housed At Smithsonian
CHANTILLY, VA - APRIL 19: Former Astronaut, and former U.S. Senator John Glenn (D-OH), walks past the Space Shuttle Discovery during an event at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center April 19, 2012 in Chantilly, Virginia. The space shuttle Discovery is the he oldest and most traveled vehicle from NASA's space shuttle program, and will replace the Interprise at the museum. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Space Shuttle Discovery Arrives In DC Area, To Be Permanently Housed At Smithsonian
CHANTILLY, VA - APRIL 19: Former Astronaut and former U.S. Senator John Glenn (D-OH), walks past the Space Shuttle Discovery during an event at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center April 19, 2012 in Chantilly, Virginia. The space shuttle Discovery is the he oldest and most traveled vehicle from NASA's space shuttle program, and will replace the Interprise at the museum. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Space Shuttle Discovery Arrives In DC Area, To Be Permanently Housed At Smithsonian
CHANTILLY, VA - APRIL 19: Former Astronaut and former U.S. Senator John Glenn (D-OH), speaks as the Space Shuttle Discovery(R), and the Space Shuttle Interprise (L), sit nose to nose, during an event at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center April 19, 2012 in Chantilly, Virginia. The space shuttle Discovery is the he oldest and most traveled vehicle from NASA's space shuttle program, and will replace the Interprise at the museum. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Former Senator and Astronaut John Glenn
Former Senator and Astronaut John Glenn speaks during a transfer ceremony for the Space Shuttle Discovery at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, April 19, 2012, as the Shuttle is officially received by the museum and will be placed on permanent display. Discovery is the first spaceship of the retired US shuttle fleet to enter its permanent home as a museum artifact, replacing the prototype Space Shuttle Enterprise, which will be moved to a museum in New York. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
President Obama Awards Presidential Medals Of Freedom
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 29: Former astronaut and former U.S. Sen. John Glenn (D-OH) is presented with a Presidential Medal of Freedom by U.S. President Barack Obama during an East Room event May 29, 2012 at the White House in Washington, DC. The Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, is presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Memorial Service For Neil Armstrong Held At National Cathedral
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 13: Astronaut and former U.S. Senator John Glenn (D-OH) (L) and musician Diana Krall attend the memorial service for astronaut Neil Armstrong at the National Cathedral September 13, 2012 in Washington, DC. The first man to walk on the surface of the Moon, Armstrong, 82, died August 25. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
US Astronaut John Glenn
UNSPECIFIED - FEBRUARY 20, 1962: In this handout photo provided by NASA, U.S. Astronaut John H. Glenn Jr. wears a silver Mercury pressure suit in preparation for launch February 20, 1962. Glenn lifted off into space aboard his Mercury Atlas (MA-6) rocket and became the first American to orbit the Earth. (Photo by NASA via Getty Images)
