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(18 Jan) PD in Space? NASA's practice of taking people on Space Shuttle Flights who are essentially passengers, having neither any special space science background nor the years of training that regular astronauts get, is a proven public relations tactic, as in the current plan to fly former astronaut John Glenn, who at 76 (my age) is in excellent condition and eager to go. I say "former" because even as the nation's first astronaut, Glenn surely isn't qualified to do maintenance or piloting jobs on the immensely complex Space Shuttle. Now it occurs to me, only half in jest, why not fly a fit person with Parkinson's Disease, preferably one with clinical testing experience, to investigate the effects of prolonged "zero" gravity on balance, coordination, and motor performance? I'm not sure precisely what kind of tests should be done, or what to look for, but I should expect there would be ideas from the PD research community about that. Meanwhile, how about some comments from the present company? Joe J. R. Bruman (818) 789-3694 3527 Cody Road Sherman Oaks, CA 91403-5013