John Glenn - a return mission

BBC News Online looks at the career of the oldest person to leave the planet, as well as half a century of space exploration which he helped pioneer.

Glenn's lucky break
John Glenn would never have become the first American to orbit the Earth had it not been for the superpowers' space race.

Meteoric rise into space
Chart John Glenn's trajectory to fame - from young Navy cadet to national hero.

New tests on age-old problems
The 77-year-old senator will provide a unique opportunity to examine the problems suffered by elderly Earthlings.

Hear John Glenn make history
Listen to some rare excerpts of epic moments in Glenn's space career.

Cosmic stories
Laika the space dog, the man on the Moon, mission to Mars - it's science fact not science fiction.

Astronomical costs
This century has seen the greatest achievements in space exploration. But was it worth the expense?

Space age
Turn your body clock back by travelling to the stars at the speed of light. It works, in theory at least.