John Glenn

Martin Kaplan (Commentary, Oct. 25) has NASA’s naming of Sen. John Glenn to the Discovery crew precisely backward: It’s not entertainment--just the opposite. America’s entertainment media insist that youth is everything, with high-tech sophistication running a close second. Glenn’s mere presence aboard Discovery undermines both of these themes by showcasing the contributions possible from a near-octogenarian, while also demonstrating the value of his life experience and proven wisdom even in the control of cutting-edge space technology.

As for Kaplan’s charge that NASA might be using “high drama and huge television ratings” to build political support, I’m sure I speak for many Times readers when I say that I am shocked--shocked--to learn that an agency of our federal government would attempt to use the news media to further its own agenda in this way.

JAMES R. BENIGER

Manhattan Beach

*

I used to teach science at Point Dume Elementary School in Malibu. Last year, during a lesson on space exploration, a few of my fourth-graders excitedly announced that they had heard on the news that a 77-year-old astronaut was going to be sent into space. NASA was sending such an old astronaut into space, insisted these students, because he was going to be put in a rocket which would be sent in a straight line away from Earth, so he could radio back and describe what he was seeing as he moved farther and farther away from the solar system. Since he was so old and was going to die soon anyway, there was no need to bring him back. He was just going to keep going until we lost track of him.

When I explained to these students that they had misunderstood the purpose of Sen. Glenn’s mission, they were disappointed. They thought they had a great idea, and couldn’t understand why NASA hadn’t thought of it.

SUSAN J. KRAUS

Malibu