John Young (September 24, 1930 – January 5, 2018) was an American astronaut, naval officer, and aviator who became one of the most accomplished astronauts in NASA's history
He was born and raised in Florida and developed a keen interest in aviation from a young age
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Young served in the United States Navy and was selected as a part of the second group of astronauts, known as the "New Nine," in 1962
Throughout his career, Young made significant contributions to the American space program
He flew on the first manned Gemini mission, Gemini 3, in 1965, alongside Virgil "Gus" Grissom
Young then commanded Gemini 10 in 1966, successfully rendezvousing with two different Agena target vehicles
In 1969, Young was a part of the Apollo 10 mission, which was a crucial precursor to the first manned moon landing
He orbited the moon aboard the command module and was involved in testing the lunar lander module
Perhaps the most noteworthy achievement of Young's career came in 1972 when he commanded Apollo 16, becoming the ninth person to walk on the moon
He spent over 20 hours exploring the lunar surface, collecting samples, and conducting experiments
Young's legacy continues even after his retirement from NASA in 2004
He became an active advocate for space exploration and was involved in various advisory roles
He also served as the Chief of the Astronaut Office and Executive Vice President of the International Space Association
John Young's illustrious career earned him numerous accolades and awards, including the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
His expertise, courage, and dedication remain an inspiration to aspiring astronauts and contributed significantly to the advancement of space exploration.
Throughout his career, Young made significant contributions to the American space program. He flew on the first manned Gemini mission, Gemini 3, in 1965, alongside Virgil "Gus" Grissom. Young then commanded Gemini 10 in 1966, successfully rendezvousing with two different Agena target vehicles. In 1969, Young was a part of the Apollo 10 mission, which was a crucial precursor to the first manned moon landing. He orbited the moon aboard the command module and was involved in testing the lunar lander module. Perhaps the most noteworthy achievement of Young's career came in 1972 when he commanded Apollo 16, becoming the ninth person to walk on the moon. He spent over 20 hours exploring the lunar surface, collecting samples, and conducting experiments. Young's legacy continues even after his retirement from NASA in 2004. He became an active advocate for space exploration and was involved in various advisory roles. He also served as the Chief of the Astronaut Office and Executive Vice President of the International Space Association. John Young's illustrious career earned him numerous accolades and awards, including the Congressional Space Medal of Honor and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal. His expertise, courage, and dedication remain an inspiration to aspiring astronauts and contributed significantly to the advancement of space exploration.