John Glenn U.S. Senate

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John Glenn is a former astronaut and United States Senator. Glenn was the first American to orbit the Earth, aboard the Friendship 7, on February 20, 1962. NASA psychologists determined that Glenn was the astronaut best suited to a political career, and Robert F. Kennedy suggested to Glenn that he challenge incumbent Ohio Senator Stephen Young. Glenn announced that he was resigning from the space program to run for office in 1964, but he had to withdraw from the race after sustaining a concussion from a fall. Glenn remained close to Kennedy, and was with him when he was assassinated in 1968. 

Glenn ran for Senate in Ohio unsuccessfully again in 1970, but was finally elected in his 1974 bid, serving until 1999. As a sitting Senator, he became the oldest person to fly in space on a Discovery mission in 1998, at age 77. Glenn was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012.