1957. after orbiting the earth three times, glenn wanted to get back to space, but john kennedy would not allow that to happen. in 1974, he was elected to the first of four terms in the senate from his home state of ohio. >> he was awarded the congressional space medal of honor in 1978 and the presidential medal of freedom in 2012. in a statement on thursday, the man who awarded him that medal, president obama, said this. john always had the right stuff. inspiring generations of scientists and engineers and astronauts to take us to mars and beyond. the last of america's first astronauts has left us, but we know that our future here on earth compels us to keep reaching for the heavens. on behalf of a grateful nation, godspeed, john glenn.