GOING BACK TO SPACE--U.S. Sen. John Glenn, D-Ohio, is surrounded by microphones as he makes his first Ohio appearence since being selected by NASA as the oldest astronaut, in Columbus, Ohio, on Monday, Feb. 2, 1998. Glenn will be 78 yrs-old when he flies on a Space Shuttle mission slated for Oct. 29. (JACK KUSTRON/photoj.com)

GODSPEED, JOHN GLENN--Visitors to the Ohio Statehouse prepare to sign a giant greeting card wishing U.S. Senator John Glenn, D-Ohio, "Godspeed" for his Thursday launch into space, in Columbus, Ohio, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 1998. (JACK KUSTRON/photoj.com)

PRAYING FOR JOHN GLENN--A visitor enters the Westminster Presbyterian Church, which is the home church of John Glenn, for a prayer vigil, in New Concord, Ohio, on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 1998. (JACK KUSTRON/photoj.com)

WE HAVE LIFTOFF--Fourth-graders from Bluffsview Elementary School, in Worthington, Ohio, join in the celebration as they watch the liftoff of the space shuttle Discovery, carrring U.S. Senator John Glenn, at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, Oct. 29, 1998. (JACK KUSTRON/photoj.com)

A REAL AMERICAN HERO--Astronaut and U.S. Senator John Glenn gestures during a ceremony honoring him on the grounds of the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 1998. (JACK KUSTRON/photoj.com)