Step 1 : Introduction to the question "Which of these astronauts was later elected to the U.S. Senate?"
John Glenn became the first American astronaut to orbit the earth when he flew the Mercury-Atlas 6 named Friendship 7 for three earth orbits in 1962, and the first astronaut elected to Congress when he won a Senate seat in 1974. He's been the most successful American Astronaut-politician thus far, serving 25 years in the Senate. In 1984, Glenn sought the Democratic nomination for President of the United States. He withdrew from the race after winning only two delegates and finishing in 6th place. Glenn returned to space in 1998 aboard Space Shuttle Discovery while still a sitting Senator. The next year he retired from Congress.