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John Glenn: Back to Space The countdown to lift-off continues. John Glenn’s much anticipated return to space has revived interest in space travel again. "Godspeed, John Glenn," those famous words will be repeated again by many people who witnessed the event of the first American orbiting the earth. Why would a 77-year-old man do something as extravagant as this? He says that this is for research, NASA says that it is for research, but I do not think that that that is the only reason he is returning to space. John Glenn has loved space, and part of the reason of this trip is to go back to the place he loves. He flew to space in a contraption in which you could barely stretch your muscles. He was willing to take the risk of traveling faster than any man had traveled before, to reach space. He committed himself to his quest. He braved so many challenges to go into space, only highlighting the fact that he loves space. Now, again, he is willing to become the oldest man to be sent into space. He is willing to be subject to so much danger, but he cares only about one thing, space. Since Neil Armstrong landed on the moon, interest in space travel has been waning. People thought everything that had to be accomplished had already been done, and turned their back on space travel. When NASA announced that John Glenn was going back to space, people regained some of the interest they had in space travel. Was this done partially because NASA wanted to attract people to space travel again, I wonder. This 77-year-old man will accomplish more than just some important research for NASA. The Discovery has been on many missions before with many different crews. Very few people will be able to give the name of one member of any former mission the Discovery has been on. While a 77-year-old going to space is a miraculous fact, we must not forget the people that are going with him. The most surprising thing about this trip is the willingness with which John Glenn has gone forward with the trip. It is true he was the one that suggested the trip, and he was one of the first men to go beyond the atmosphere of the earth. Even with all these factors, every man will become slightly nervous about a trip into space. Yet, he never shows any sign of nervousness when he is interviewed on television. He has never faltered in answering the ever-changing questions of the press. Such calmness certainly shows how relaxed he is about this historic event. John Glenn is also displaying the courage that humans have inside them. He has gone through the same rigorous training course as any of the other astronauts. He has passed that course although he is much older than the astronauts are. This man has displayed strength and will to earn the right to go into space. Let us wish him good luck. Date posted : October 11, 1998. What do you think about this?
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