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2016 came in like a lion and is clearly determined to go out similar a total sack of crap: John Glenn has died.

Glenn wore many hats during his time on and around our pale blue dot: test pilot, veteran, spaceman, and senator. As a fellow, Glenn flew gainsay sorties in Earth State of war II and Korea. He was courageous and confident, skilled without becoming a showboat. Those credentials, coupled with his studies in engineering at OSU, were what qualified him for NASA'due south nascent astronaut preparation program in 1958. The New York Times says that in his zeal to become to space, Glenn actually sat with stacks of heavy books atop his caput, compressing his peak down to brand sure he'd come in nether the maximum 5'11" height for an astronaut.

Glenn's official military portrait

Glenn's official military portrait

John Glenn was a dauntless homo, and no stranger to literal and figurative moonshots. He jockeyed hard to exist the first human in space, but had to expect equally Alan Sheppard took the accolade. Glenn was backup pilot to Sheppard and Gus Grissom on the Freedom seven and Liberty Bell 7, respectively. In 1961, Glenn took flying with the Mercury plan on Friendship 7, making three orbits around Earth before coming home successfully. Upon splashdown, Glenn radioed in, "My condition is practiced, but that was a existent fireball, male child."

When Glenn came dorsum to Earth for keeps, after he left NASA, he entered politics and a successful, "squeaky-clean" 24-year tenure in the Senate. He even ran for President on the Democratic ticket in 1982 — merely he wasn't enough of a career politician, and it never took off. Even engaged in such earthly affairs, Glenn never took his eyes from the skies. Glenn remained a respected Senate adviser on matters of aerospace and defence, and he became a household name. He maintained an active pilot's license most until the finish, and but sold his plane once it finally got as well hard on his and his wife'southward knees to climb over the wing to make it the cockpit.

Having been to infinite one time as a swain, Glenn'south own life history offered a unique opportunity for studying how space travel tin can affect the aging body. In 1998, after years of badgering NASA and the federal administration, John Glenn went dorsum to space, ostensibly to bring back some information for science. Clearly this had naught to do with, you know, wanting to go back into space before he died. Bristling with medical leads and measuring devices, Glenn spent 9 days aboard Discovery as the oldest person to fly in space. Lxx-seven years former and floating around in microgravity; dandy.

John Glenn's EKG, 20 Feb 1962, taken after orbit

John Glenn's EKG reading, taken during his post-orbit debrief, 20 Feb 1962

Glenn is survived by his widow, Annna Margaret "Annie" Glenn, his kids and grandkids, and his legacy in enquiry and aerospace. The NASA Lewis Research Middle in Cleveland was renamed to the John H. Glenn Research Center to gloat Glenn's achievements.

If you're driving on I-480 near Cleveland today, tip your hat to the man. Godspeed, John Glenn.