Godspeed, John Glenn

Today marks the 50th anniversary of John Glenn's 1962 three-orbit spaceflight, an acheivement that made him the first American to circle the globe in space. Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin had already flown an orbital mission nearly 10 months earlier.

Glenn marked the anniversary with by chatting with astronauts on board the International Space Station. Now 90, the former U.S. senator is one of only two surviving members of the U.S.'s first group of astronauts, the Mercury Seven. The other, Scott Carpenter, is the one who wished Glenn "Godspeed" before his launch. Glenn returned to space aboard a space shuttle flight in 1998, becoming the oldest person ever to fly in space at 77 years of age.

Glenn was joined in the panel discussion at Ohio State University by NASA administrator Charles Bolden, who joked that the astronaut sometimes pesters him about making a flight to the space station. Right, Chuck -- if he wants a ride to the space station, you're not on the list of people to ask, remember? Glenn has a better shot by asking one of the taikonauts aboard a Shenzou capsule for a ride than he does trying to live long enough for the next NASA manned launch.

Either way, it's nice to see NASA mark Glenn's achievement and to see Glenn able to participate in observing it and discussing its impact. Continued wishes of good health and life, Senator Glenn.