There's scarcely a more famous or well-placed NASA astronaut alive today. That's not to say it's been an easy ride for the septuagenarian or the space agency. Last week they both came under intense media scrutiny after it was learned that Glenn's contribution to the science of the mission would not be as big as originally thought. First, it was learned that the senator had been dropped from a key experiment into the effects of the natural hormone melatonin- a drug that is available for sale at most U.S. pharmacies and health food stores. As a continuation of experiments carried out during the Neurolab mission earlier this year, NASA scientists want to know what effect this sleep-inducing drug has on astronauts.
Most astronauts report having difficulty sleeping in microgravity.
So do many of the elderly here on Earth. NASA had hoped Glenn's participation would have provided clues researchers might use to help both. Last week it was also discovered that the raw data from the medical experiments carried out on Glenn will never be publicly released. Only those researchers who are directly involved in the tests will be allowed to use the information, while scientists from outside the agency will not. The reason for this is simple.