John Watts Young, born on September 24, 1930, and passing away on January 5, 2018, stands as a monumental figure in the history of space exploration. As a distinguished U.S. astronaut, his career spanned the pioneering Gemini program, the groundbreaking Apollo missions, and the era of the Space Shuttle. John Young holds the unique distinction of being the first astronaut to embark on five, and subsequently six, spaceflights, solidifying his place as a true legend of space travel. His initial foray into crewed spaceflight was as copilot to Virgil I. Grissom on Gemini 3 in 1965, marking the United States’ first two-person mission in space.
Young’s path to becoming a celebrated astronaut began with a solid foundation in engineering and naval service. After earning a degree in aeronautical engineering from the prestigious Georgia Institute of Technology in 1952, he joined the U.S. Navy. His service included a tour in Korea and participation in flight test projects, where his exceptional piloting skills were evident as he set two time-to-climb records in a F-4B navy jet in 1962. This period of rigorous training and high-performance flying was crucial preparation for his selection into the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) astronaut corps, where he began training in 1962 for the burgeoning U.S. space program.
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The Gemini program was pivotal in developing essential spaceflight techniques, and John Young played a crucial role in its success. Gemini 3, launched on March 23, 1965, with Young as pilot, achieved a maximum altitude of 139 miles during its first orbit. The mission involved complex orbital maneuvers, changing orbit three times before a successful splashdown in the South Atlantic Ocean after 4 hours and 53 minutes. His exemplary performance on Gemini 3 earned him the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, awarded by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Continuing his Gemini contributions, John Young flew alongside Michael Collins on Gemini 10, launched on July 18, 1966. This mission achieved another milestone by docking with an Agena target vehicle and utilizing the Agena’s engine to reach an impressive altitude of 475 miles.
The Apollo program, with its ambitious goal of landing humans on the Moon, saw John Young take on increasingly significant roles. On May 18, 1969, Apollo 10 was launched, carrying Commander Thomas P. Stafford, Eugene A. Cernan, and John Young. This mission was a critical “dress rehearsal” for the Moon landing, orbiting the Moon to test Apollo systems in lunar orbit in preparation for Apollo 11’s historic landing. John Young then commanded Apollo 16, launched April 16, 1972, with crewmates Charles M. Duke, Jr., and Thomas K. Mattingly. This mission marked the fifth crewed landing on the Moon, with Young himself walking on the lunar surface, conducting experiments and collecting lunar samples.
Transitioning into the Space Shuttle era, John Young continued to break barriers. He commanded STS-1, the very first Space Shuttle mission, launched on April 12, 1981, with Robert L. Crippen as pilot. Guiding the orbiter Columbia, Young expertly landed the shuttle at Edwards Air Force Base in California after 36 orbits of Earth, marking a new chapter in spaceflight with reusable spacecraft. In 1983, he again commanded the Columbia on STS-9, a joint mission with the European Space Agency from November 28 to December 8. This mission carried Spacelab, a scientific workshop, in the shuttle’s payload bay, further demonstrating the versatility of the Space Shuttle for scientific research in space.
John Young retired from the Navy in 1976 but remained deeply involved with NASA, serving as Chief of the Astronaut Office. From 1987, he took on management roles at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, focusing on Space Shuttle operations and safety, drawing upon his unparalleled experience to enhance the program. He finally retired from NASA in 2004, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of space exploration. John Young’s pioneering spirit, exceptional skills, and dedication to spaceflight cemented his status not only as a first among astronauts but as an enduring icon of human achievement in space.
