It will be a few days before I'm completely back to normal. Discovery touched down at Kennedy at mid-day Saturday. Glenn soon joined his six shuttle colleagues in a brief walk around inspection of Discovery but appeared wobbly as he strolled on the runway. Later, the crew's NASA flight surgeon canceled plans for a post landing press conference by the astronauts because a round of medical examinations took longer than the scheduled four hours. On Sunday, Glenn acknowledged his body was taxed by the first sensations of gravity he experienced as Discovery returned to Earth.
Many astronauts find it difficult to stand without fainting immediately after their return to Earth.
The difficulty disappears after their cardiovascular system becomes accustomed to working harder to pump oxygen-rich blood to their brains. Rapid head motions are also unsettling and sometimes provoke nausea immediately after astronauts return to Earth. The sensation disappears as the gravity sensing mechanisms of their nervous system re-acclimate to gravity. In spite of the discomforts, Glenn said he was elated by his latest spaceflight and elated to be reunited with close family members and, with the rest of Discovery's crew, to receive a congratulatory phone call from President Clinton. Annie was very glad to have me back, and I was glad to see her obviously.