John Glenn will become the oldest person to travel in space today, if the space shuttle Discovery launches as scheduled, at 2 p.m. from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

Athens residents had mixed reactions to Glenn's return to space.

Ohio University physiology professor Frederick Hagerman, member of NASA's 1998 Review Board for Facilities and Programs, said Glenn's shuttle ride will be good publicity for NASA and senior citizens, but has little scientific merit.

"It is a single case study and there is nothing to compare it with. I just wouldn't call it good science," he said. "It's more romance, and I'm all for it."

In a time filled with Clinton scandals and other political problems, it's a nice story for the people, Hagerman said. He names Glenn as one of his personal heroes.

Glenn became the first person to orbit the earth in 1962 when he circled the planet three times in a five-hour flight. He has been a U.S. Senator for Ohio since 1974.

"I felt America owed John Glenn a second flight," NASA administrator Daniel Gold said.

OU senior Jennifer Jacobs said Glenn has earned the second trip.

"As long as the flight was already planned (and the purpose wasn't to take Glenn into space a second time), then the first person to orbit earth deserves something," she said.

On the other hand, if he's just doing it for the second experience, then it's not worth it, junior Josh Bernstein said. If Glenn is going back into space for the purpose of learning, then it is of merit, he said.

However, assistant professor of physics and astronomy Thomas Statler questioned how important Glenn's research will be. He said the study involving Glenn is inconsequential compared to things NASA does that are important for the understanding of science.

"If you're going to use fantastic technology and spend a billion dollars, you need to decide what the truly compelling questions are that need answered," Statler said. "It's sad that publicity stunts get so much attention when the people doing the real work won't be publicly recognized."

Even though NASA is trying to improve its publicity, this isn't just a publicity stunt, sophomore Mary Eufinger said.

Glenn's flight as the oldest person will not be the only first for this Discovery mission. For the first time, women will act as launch commentator, ascent commentator, flight director and Capcom, the voice the astronauts hear from mission control.

The flight has a window of two hours and 30 minutes for launch today. It is scheduled to last eight days, 22 hours and four minutes.

-Associated Press contributed to this story.