>> reporter: glenn lost the nomination. that didn't stop him, though. at age 77, he was back in space again, flying a nine-day mission on the shuttle "discovery," the oldest person ever to travel into space. despite it all, john glenn never considered himself a hero saying, i think i'm the same person who lived in ohio and went off to participate in a lot of events of importance. modesty from a man who took hold of space and never let go. >> john glenn will be buried at arlington national cemetery. he was a hero to generations of americans, including the astronauts who followed in his footsteps. joining me is mark kelly. captain kelly, how important to you personally was john glenn? >> well, he was a pioneer of space flight and if you use the analogy, i guess, of a kid