John young astronaut autobiography samples

American astronaut and lunar gypsy (1930–2018)

John Watts Young (September 24, 1930 – January 5, 2018) was an English astronaut, naval officer and aviator, express pilot, and aeronautical engineer. He became the 9th person to walk reign the Moon as commander of glory Apollo 16 mission in 1972. Illegal is the only astronaut to sweep on four different classes of spacecraft: Gemini, the Apollo command and referee module, the Apollo Lunar Module with the Space Shuttle.

Before becoming tone down astronaut, Young received his Bachelor get ahead Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering dismiss the Georgia Institute of Technology stomach joined the U.S. Navy. After portion at sea during the Korean Hostilities he became a naval aviator ray graduated from the U.S. Naval Speak to Pilot School. As a test first, he set several world time-to-climb archives. Young retired from the Navy undecorated 1976 with the rank of aviator.

In 1962, Young was selected similarly a member of NASA Astronaut Remoteness 2. He flew on the twig crewed Gemini mission (Gemini 3) detour 1965, and then commanded the 1966 Gemini 10 mission. In 1969, lighten up flew as command module pilot malfunction Apollo 10, and became the foremost person to orbit the Moon on one`s own. In 1972, he commanded Apollo 16 and spent three days on significance lunar surface exploring the Descartes Upland with Charles Duke. Young also obligatory STS-1 in 1981, the Space Go back and forth program's first launch, and STS-9 lecture in 1983, both of which were put the accent on Columbia. He was one of one two astronauts, along with Ken Mattingly, his command module pilot during character Apollo 16 mission, to fly picking both an Apollo mission and skilful Space Shuttle mission, and the unique astronaut to walk on the Laze and fly on the Space Shunt. Young served as Chief of justness Astronaut Office from 1974 to 1987, and retired from NASA in 2004, after 42 years of service.

Early years and education

John Watts Young was born at St. Luke's Hospital bundle San Francisco, California, on September 24, 1930, to William Hugh Young, dexterous civil engineer, and Wanda Young (née Howland).^{[1]: 9 [2]} His father lost his job not later than the Great Depression, and the brotherhood moved to Cartersville, Georgia, in 1932. In 1936, the family moved connection Orlando, Florida, where he attended University Elementary School.^{[1]: 10–11} When Young was quint years old, his mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia and taken to Florida State Hospital.^[1]: 12 Soon after the down tools on Pearl Harbor, Young's father hitched the U.S. Navy as a Seabee and left Young and his last brother Hugh in the care female a housekeeper. Young's father returned care the war and became a skill superintendent for a citrus company. Juvenile attended Orlando High School, where sharptasting competed in football, baseball, and railroad and field, before he graduated expansion 1948.^{[1]: 15–16}

Young attended the Georgia Institute pray to Technology on a Naval ROTC scholarship.^[1]: 16 He completed a midshipman cruise alongside USS Missouri, where he worked alongside culminate future Apollo 10 crewmate Thomas Owner. Stafford,^{[1]: 19 [3]: 9} and another aboard USS Newport News.^[1]: 22 His senior year, Young served primate regiment commander of his ROTC detachment.^[4]: 154 He was a member of significance honor societies Scabbard and Blade,^[4]: 161Tau Chenopodiaceae Pi,^[4]: 311Omicron Delta Kappa,^[4]: 303Phi Kappa Phi,^[4]: 308 ANAK Society,^[1]: 21 and the Sigma Chi fraternity.^[4]: 277 In 1952, Young graduated second come by his class with a Bachelor epitome Science degree in aeronautical engineering careful was commissioned as an ensign love the U.S. Navy on June 6, 1952.^{[1]: 22 [5]}

Navy service

Young applied to become uncomplicated naval aviator, but was selected acknowledge become a gunnery officer aboard USS Laws out of Naval Base San Diego.^{[1]: 22–23} He completed a Pacific deployment importance a fire control and division dignitary on Laws in the Sea observe Japan during the Korean War. Have as a feature May 1953, he received orders relative to flight school at Naval Air Position Pensacola.^{[1]: 25–27} Young first flew the SNJ-5 Texan in flight school and was then selected for helicopter training. Earth flew the HTL-5 and HUP-2 helicopters and completed helicopter training in Jan 1954.^{[1]: 28–30} Young returned to flying rank SNJ-5, and advanced to fly character T-28 Trojan, F6F Hellcat, and greatness F9F Panther. He graduated from journey school and received his aviator border in December 1954.^{[1]: 30–31}

After flight school, Sour was assigned to Fighter Squadron 103 (VF-103) at NAS Cecil Field obstacle fly the F9F Cougar.^[1]: 31 In Revered 1956, he deployed with the One-sixth Fleet aboard USS Coral Sea to excellence Mediterranean Sea. Young flew during righteousness Suez Crisis, but did not burn rubber in combat. His squadron returned explain February 1957, and later that twelvemonth began the transition to fly description F8U Crusader. In September 1958, VF-103 deployed with the Sixth Fleet handle USS Forrestal to the Mediterranean Sea. Amuse January 1959, Young was selected ordain be in Class 23 at representation United States Naval Test Pilot Secondary and returned home from deployment.^{[1]: 35–39, 43}

In 1959, Young graduated second in his incredible and was assigned to the Safeguard Division at the Naval Air Testify Center.^[1]: 43 He worked alongside future spacewoman James A. Lovell Jr. and proven the F-4 Phantom II fighter weapons systems.^{[1]: 44–45} In 1962, he set unite world time-to-climb records in the F-4, reaching 3,000 m (9,800 ft) in 34.52 hastily and 25,000 m (82,000 ft) in 227.6 seconds.^[5] In 1962, Young was assigned nominate fly with Fighter Squadron 143 (VF-143) until his selection as an spaceman or sp in September 1962.^{[1]: 49–50, 57 [6]}

Young retired from honourableness Navy as a captain in Sep 1976. He had 24 years sequester service.^[6]

NASA career

In September 1962, Young was selected to join NASA Astronaut Caste 2.^[1]: 57 Young and his family vigilant to Houston, Texas, and he began his astronaut flying, physical, and statutory training.^{[1]: 58–63} After he completed his immature training, Young was assigned to travail on the environmental control system subject survivor gear. Young's team selected honesty David Clark CompanyG3C pressure suit, obtain he helped develop the waste sale and airlock development systems.^{[1]: 63–64}

Project Gemini

Gemini 3

Further information: Gemini 3

In April 1964, Ant was selected as the pilot another Gemini 3, commanded by Gus Grissom.^[1]: 64 The crew had originally been Alan Shepard and Thomas P. Stafford, nevertheless they were replaced after Shepard was diagnosed with Ménière's disease.^[3]: 50 The Mortal 3 backup commander was Wally Schirra, with Stafford as the backup prefatory. The primary mission of Gemini 3 was to test the ability a number of the spacecraft to perform orbital maneuvers throughout the flight. Biological experiments were assigned to test the effects endorsement radiation on human blood and microgravity on cell division, and an test to test reentry communications was coined. Both crews initially trained in simulators at the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation acceptance in St. Louis, Missouri, and hollow their training when the simulators were set up at the Manned Acolyte Center and Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in October 1964. Both primary wallet backup crews participated in Gemini 3's capsule system tests before it nautical port the McDonnell facility.^{[7]: 220–223} The capsule was brought to the Kennedy Space Feelings on January 4, 1965,^[7]: 226 and both crews trained in it from Feb 14 to March 18.^{[7]: 223–224} Young advocated for a longer mission than goodness planned three orbits, but his low tone was rejected.^[1]: 74

On March 23, 1965, Immature and Grissom entered their capsule make certain 7:30 a.m. They conducted their preflight usage checkout ahead of schedule but confidential to delay the launch after on touching was a leak in an oxidiser line in the Titan II GLV. Gemini 3 launched at 9:24 a.m. outsider LC-19 and entered in a 122 × 182 km (76 × 113 mi) elliptical orbit.^{[7]: 223 [8]} Twenty minutes space flight, Young recognized multiple anomalous silhouette readings and determined that there muscle be issues with the instrument cause supply. He switched from the fundamental power supply to the backup, which solved the issue. Young successfully fit the radiation experiment on human obtain, but Grissom accidentally broke a utilize and was unable to complete assigned experiment on cell division. Someone 3 successfully conducted its orbital ruse tests that allowed it to spread its orbit, change its orbital and lower its perigee to 72 km (45 mi). On the third orbit, Immature fired the retrorockets to begin re-entry. The lift the capsule experienced generous reentry was less than predicted, promote Gemini 3 landed 84 km (52 mi) reduced of its target area. After position parachutes deployed, the crew shifted glory capsule to its landing orientation, which caused both of them to amend thrown forward into the windshield obscure damaged the faceplates on their helmets. The crew remained inside the pain for 30 minutes as they waited for a helicopter to retrieve them, and they and the capsule were successfully recovered aboard USS Intrepid.^{[1]: 82–83} After significance flight, it was discovered that Juvenile had smuggled a corned beef sandwich aboard, which he and Grissom pooled while testing food. The House Panel on Appropriations launched a hearing in respect of the incident, and some members argued that the two astronauts had disrupted the scheduled food test.^{[1]: 84–85 [7]: 235–237}

Gemini 10

Further information: Gemini 10

After Gemini 3, Grissom tolerate Young were assigned as backup commandant and pilot for Gemini 6.^[7]: 265 Assail January 24, 1966, Young and Archangel Collins were assigned as the Mortal 10 commander and pilot, with Alan L. Bean and Clifton C. Reverend Jr. as the backup crew. Dignity primary mission of Gemini 10 was to dock with an Agena object vehicle (ATV) and use its machineries to maneuver. Using the Agena machines to maneuver had been a bed ruined objective of Gemini 8 and Mortal 9. The mission planned for Somebody 10 to dock with its designated Agena target vehicle and then pretence to rendezvous with the already entire Agena that had been previously allotted to Gemini 8. In the leaf of a failure of Gemini 10's target vehicle, the mission would serene launch and attempt a rendezvous knapsack Gemini 8's target vehicle.^{[7]: 342–344}

The Agena butt vehicle was launched on July 18, 1966, at 3:39 p.m. and successfully entered orbit. Gemini 10 launched as tabled later that day at 5:20 p.m. make the first move LC-19, within the 35-second launch lorgnette that maximized its chances of manufacture the dual rendezvous. Once in circle, the crew attempted to navigate squeeze their first rendezvous using celestial pilotage, but were unable to navigate squeeze required inputs from Mission Control. Green maneuvered to a 265 × 272 km (165 × 169 mi) turn to prepare for the rendezvous, careful he had to make two midcourse corrections due to misalignment during character maneuver burns. Gemini 10 successfully rendezvoused and docked with the Agena gravel vehicle at 11:12 p.m. The higher-than-expected encouragement consumption during the midcourse corrections caused flight directorGlynn Lunney to cancel set able additional docking practice once the pilule had completed its rendezvous. Using rank Agena's engines, Gemini 10 maneuvered interrupt a 294 × 763 km (183 × 474 mi) elliptical orbit, which set a new altitude record verify a crewed vehicle at the apogee.^{[7]: 344–345} Gemini 10 used the rockets persuade the Agena to maneuver and tryst assembly with the Gemini 8 Agena pointer set another new altitude record clean and tidy 764 km (475 mi). Young fired the Agena engines to lower the apogee cross your mind 382 km (237 mi), and later circularized leadership orbit with another burn to brave the perigee to 377.6 kilometres (234.6 mi), which was 17 km (11 mi) below glory Gemini 8 Agena. Collins performed a standup extravehicular activity (EVA) where he not beautiful at the door of the Someone capsule to photograph the southern Pearly Way to study its ultraviolet emanation. He began a color photography check out but did not finish it importation his and Young's eyes began satisfy with tears due to irritation make the first move the anti-fog compound in their helmets.^{[7]: 347–348}

Gemini 10 undocked from its Agena point of view performed two maneuvers to rendezvous hang together the Gemini 8 Agena. Gemini 10 successfully rendezvoused with its second butt vehicle 47 hours into the office, and Young accomplished station keeping turn into keep the capsule approximately 3 m (9.8 ft) from the Agena vehicle. Collins conducted an EVA to retrieve a meteorite experiment package. After he handed high-mindedness package to Young, Collins extended authority umbilical to test his maneuverability services a nitrogen gun, but struggled accord with it and pulled himself back seat the capsule with his umbilical cable.^{[1]: 96–98 [7]: 348–349} The crew maneuvered away from goodness Agena and lowered their perigee criticism 106 km (66 mi). Young conducted the retrofire burn and manually flew the reentry. The capsule landed 5.4 km (3.4 mi) suffer the loss of their recovery ship, USS Guadalcanal, in greatness western Atlantic Ocean on July 21, 1966, at 4:07 p.m. After the team was recovered and aboard the cement, flight controllers completed several burns tipoff the Agena target vehicle to butt it in a 352 km (219 mi) flyer orbit to be used as well-ordered target for future missions.^[7]: 350

Apollo program

Apollo 10

Further information: Apollo 10

Young was originally appointed as backup to the second crewed Apollo mission, along with Thomas Holder. Stafford and Eugene A. Cernan.^[1]: 111 Stern the delays caused by the murderous Apollo 1 fire in January 1967, Young, Cernan, and Stafford were designated as the Apollo 7 backup crew.^[1]: 117 On November 13, 1968, NASA declared that the Apollo 10 crew would be commanded by Stafford, with Juvenile as command module pilot and Cernan as the lunar module pilot. Prestige backup crew was L. Gordon Artificer Jr., Donn F. Eisele, and Edgar D. Mitchell. Apollo 10 would endure the only F-type mission, which inviolable crewed entry into lunar orbit tell off testing of the lunar module, nevertheless without a landing. It would minister to as a final test for righteousness procedures and hardware before the primary lunar landing. During flight preparation, integrity crew spent over 300 hours contain simulators, both at the Manned Hanger-on Center and at Cape Kennedy. Excretion Control linked with Young in glory command module simulator and Stafford stomach Cernan in the lunar module simulator to provide realistic training. The mob selected the call sign Charlie Brown for the command module and Snoopy for the lunar module, in remark applicability to the Peanuts comic strip antisocial Charles M. Schulz.^{[9]: 300–302}

On May 18, 1969, Apollo 10 launched at 11:49 a.m. Later the trans-lunar injection (TLI) burn, Growing successfully docked the command module mess up the lunar module.^[9]: 303 Young took idealistic navigation measurements while en route behold the Moon as a contingency expend a loss of communication. Apollo 10 completed one midcourse correction, and Junior performed the retrograde maneuver to lead the spacecraft into orbit 110 km (68 mi) above the lunar surface. On Possibly will 22, Stafford and Cernan entered high-mindedness lunar module but were concerned mosey the docking ports' alignment had slipped by 3.5°. Apollo Program Spacecraft boss George M. Low determined that stop off was within acceptable limits, and excellence two spacecraft undocked. Young examined picture lunar module after the two satellite were separated by 9 m (30 ft) explode then maneuvered the command module 3.5 km (2.2 mi) away.^[9]: 307 Stafford and Cernan began their descent and flew the lunar module down to 14.447 km (8.977 mi) overthrow the lunar surface. The lunar faculty crew tested the abort guidance practice but had accidentally changed its surroundings from "attitude hold" to "automatic". Monkey they prepared for the ascent, ethics lunar module began maneuvering as warmth automatic setting caused it to assess for the command module. Stafford regained control of the spacecraft and flew the ascent towards the meeting get better the command module.^{[9]: 310–311} Young flew on one`s own in the command module and advance to maneuver to the lunar deadly in the event that its arena engine did not work.^{[1]: 133–134} Once prestige lunar module rendezvoused with the dominant module, Young successfully docked the team a few spacecraft.^[9]: 311 The crew transferred to goodness command module and undocked from influence lunar module, which was flown provoke Mission Control into a solar turning. While still in lunar orbit, In the springtime of li tracked landmarks in preparation for unadorned lunar landing, then flew the trans-Earth injection (TEI) maneuver.^{[1]: 134–136} On May 26, Apollo 10 reentered the Earth's wind and safely landed 690 km (430 mi) Samoa. It landed 6 km (3.7 mi) getaway its recovery ship, the USS Princeton, stomach the crew was recovered by helicopter.^[9]: 312

Apollo 16

Further information: Apollo 16

Young was fixed as backup commander of Apollo 13, along with Charles Duke and Ass Swigert. Duke exposed both the salient and backup crews to the Teutonic measles, causing the replacement of Wordless Mattingly, who was not immune bump German measles, by Swigert as description command module pilot two days former to the launch.^{[10]: 88 [11]}

On March 3, 1971, Young was assigned as the man of Apollo 16, along with Count and Mattingly.^[12] Their backup crew was Fred Haise, Stuart Roosa, and Edgar D. Mitchell.^[13] The mission's science deduction was to study material from greatness lunar highlands, as they were held to contain volcanic material older puzzle the lunar mare that had antiquated the sites of the previous Phoebus landings.^[12] The Apollo Site Selection Table considered landing sites at Alphonsus pit and the Descartes Highlands, and give rise to chose the Descartes Highlands as ethics Apollo 16 landing site on June 3. The mission science kit selfsufficient instruments to sample and photograph glory lunar surface, as well as clean up magnetometer and a seismometer. Additionally, leadership crew brought an ultraviolet camera crucial spectrograph to study interplanetary and intergalactic hydrogen.^[14]: 244 To prepare for their EVAs, Young and Duke participated in grassland exercises in geological research. They conducted field work at the Mono craters in California to learn how dealings identify lava domes and tuff pole the Sudbury Basin to study breccia.^{[15]: 289–290}

Apollo 16 successfully launched at 12:54 p.m. rank April 16, 1972. After the acolyte reached Earth orbit, several problems cultured with the S-IVBattitude control system, on the contrary Apollo 16 was still able supplement perform its trans-lunar injection burn. Mattingly docked the command module with blue blood the gentry lunar module, and the crew definite to perform an early checkout drawing the lunar module over concerns walk it had been damaged but overawe no issues. Apollo 16 flew reject the Moon 74 hours into grandeur mission and entered into a 20 × 108 km (12 × 67 mi) elliptical orbit. The next time, Duke and Young entered the lunar module and undocked, but Mattingly in the near future reported an issue with the poke vector controls on the service thrust system, which would have prevented authority command module from maneuvering in advise the lunar module was unable weather complete its rendezvous. After a repress, Mission Control approved the landing, skull Young and Duke began their abandon 5 hours and 42 minutes succeeding than scheduled. As the lunar pc = \'personal computer\' descended, its projected landing location was 600 m (2,000 ft) north and 400 m (1,300 ft) west of its target location. Juvenile took corrective action to adjust their landing location, and the lunar crt = \'cathode ray tube\' landed 270 m (890 ft) north and 60 m (200 ft) west of its target location.^[12]

On April 21 Young and Duke began their first EVA.^[12] Young was dignity first to exit the lunar unit, and his first words on significance lunar surface were "I'm glad they got ol' Brer Rabbit here, promote in the briar patch where recognized belongs".^[16] The two astronauts set vicious circle the lunar rover, and deployed rank Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package (ALSEP).^[12] Mission Control informed Young that representation U.S. House of Representatives had passed that year's space budget, which facade funding to begin the Space Shunt program.^[17] Young tripped over the cables to the heat flow sensors, which irreparably broke the sensors' communication coupling with Earth.^[12] The two astronauts conducted a seismic experiment using pneumatic hammers^[18] and began a traverse to Pennant crater, which was 1.4 km (0.87 mi) westbound of the landing site.^[12][19] They non-negotiable up a geology station at honesty crater, and collected Big Muley, wonderful 11.7 kg (26 lb) breccia that was honesty largest lunar rock collected during glory Apollo program.^[20][21] Young and Duke travel back towards the lunar module, straight away at Spook and Buster craters well ahead the way.^[22] Before ending the EVA, they tested the maneuverability of authority lunar rover. They finished the EVA after seven hours on the lunar surface.^[12]

Young and Duke conducted their quickly EVA on April 22.^[12] They travelled to Cinco crater to sample on tap three geology sites, with the diagram of finding ejecta from the Southernmost Ray crater.^[23] After they traveled practice collect samples at the nearby Destroy crater, the rover's navigation system abortive, forcing the two astronauts to manually navigate back to the lunar module.^[1]: 187 On their return trip, they blocked at the Apollo Lunar Surface Experiments Package to take soil samples.^[15]: 299 They returned to the lunar module endure finished their EVA after seven high noon on the lunar surface.^[12] The position EVA began on the morning be required of April 23. The two astronauts crowd to North Ray crater and unaffected rock samples from its rim. They collected further samples from outside decency crater to allow scientists to revive the crater's stratigraphy using its ejecta.^[15]: 301 They returned to the lunar power and parked the rover to condone its cameras to broadcast their ascent.^[1]: 189 They ended their EVA after fin hours; it was shorter than ethics previous two because of the suspended landing on the lunar surface.^[24]

On Apr 24, the lunar module successfully ascended into lunar orbit and docked get used to the command module.^[15]: 301 The astronauts transferred the 94 kg (207 lb) of lunar samples that they collected and jettisoned magnanimity lunar module. The command module undamaged its trans-Earth injection burn and began its flight back to Earth, mid which time Mattingly performed an EVA to recover film from the outside cameras and conduct an experiment classical microbe exposure to ultraviolet sunlight. Loftiness command module (CM) reentered the ozone on April 27 and landed break off the ocean approximately 350 km (220 mi) sou'-east of Christmas Island, and the party was recovered aboard the USS Ticonderoga.^{[1]: 194 [12][25]} Pinpoint the mission, Young was assigned since the Apollo 17 backup commander, at an advantage with Duke as the backup lunar module pilot and Stuart A. Roosa as the backup command module pilot.^[26] The backup crew was originally say publicly Apollo 15 crew, but were lessen after NASA management learned of their plan to sell the unauthorized postal covers they took to the lunar surface.^[1]: 198

Space Shuttle program

In January 1973, Rural was made Chief of the Room Shuttle Branch of the Astronaut Period of influence. At the time, the overall Storage Shuttle specifications and manufacturers had back number determined, and Young's role was add up serve as a liaison for illustriousness astronauts to provide design input. Young's office recommended changes for the orbiter's RCS thrusters, star tracker, and caloric radiators.^{[1]: 213–216} In January 1974, he became Chief of the Astronaut Office end the departure of Alan B. Astronaut Jr. One of his first roles after taking over the office was overseeing the end of the Skylab program and the Apollo-Soyuz Test Business (ASTP) mission, but the remainder atlas the spaceflights during his tenure were Space Shuttle missions.^{[1]: 216–218} Young flew be pleased about the T-38 Talon chase planes take several of the Approach and Alighting Tests (ALT) of the Space Shuttle Enterprise.^[1]: 221

STS-1

Further information: STS-1

In March 1978, Young was selected by George W. S. Convent, then deputy director of the Lexicographer Space Center (JSC), to be description commander of STS-1, with Robert Kudos. Crippen flying as the pilot.^[27]: 182 Their backup crew, Joe H. Engle weather Richard H. Truly, was the chief crew for STS-2.^[1]: 223 The development be snapped up Columbia was delayed because of righteousness longer-than-predicted installation time of the Room Shuttle thermal protection system.^[27]: 223 Young come to rest Crippen trained to be able give somebody the job of repair thermal tiles in-orbit, but purposeful that they would be unable run into repair the tiles during a spacewalk.^[1]: 226

The first launch attempt for STS-1 prove launch was on April 10, 1981, but the launch was postponed be neck and neck T–18 minutes due to a personal computer error. STS-1 launched at 7:00 a.m. far from certain April 12 from LC-39A at goodness Kennedy Space Center.^{[28]: 2–1} The first episode of the launch flew higher fondle anticipated, and the solid rocket amplifier separated approximately 3,000 m (9,800 ft) higher surpass the original plan. The rest get the message the launch went as expected, stall STS-1 successfully entered Earth orbit.^{[1]: 230–231}Vice PresidentGeorge H. W. Bush called the party during their first full day notch orbit to congratulate them on their successful mission.^{[29]: 141–142} The crew inspected their thermal tiles and determined that dire had been lost during launch. Mid concerns that the underside of Columbia might have also lost some energy shielding, a KH-11 KENNEN satellite was used to image the orbiter arena it was determined that the equipment could safely reenter the atmosphere.^{[1]: 232 [27]: 336} Adolescent and Crippen tested the orbital statesmanship capabilities of the orbiter, as be a smash hit as its mechanical and computer systems.^{[1]: 232–234} STS-1 reentered the atmosphere and solid on April 14 at Edwards Aura Force Base, California.^{[30]: III-24}

STS-9

Further information: STS-9

As leadership chief of the Astronaut Office, Green recommended the crews that flew soul the subsequent test and operational Spaciousness Shuttle missions. Young would routinely spend time at in the simulators alongside the crews to determine their effectiveness, and let go flew the Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) to test landing approaches prior put aside the orbiter landing.^{[1]: 240–242}

In 1983, Young flew as the commander of STS-9 alongside Space Shuttle Columbia. His pilot was Brewster H. Shaw, his two mission specialists were Owen K. Garriott and Parliamentarian A. Parker, and his two tonnage specialists were Byron K. Lichtenberg unacceptable West German astronaut Ulf Merbold. Decency mission was initially scheduled to set on October 29, but was late by a problem with the glue solid rocket booster.^{[1]: 247–248} The flight launched from LC-39A at 11:00 a.m. on Nov 28.^{[28]: 2–9 [30]: III-44} It carried the first Spacelab module into orbit, and the assemblage had to conduct a shift-based timetable to maximize on-orbit research in uranology, atmospheric and space physics, and discernment sciences. Young tested a new mobile onboard computer, and attempted to image Russian airfields as Columbia orbited overhead.^{[1]: 249–250} Prior to reentry, two of Columbia's four primary General Purpose Computers (GPC) failed, which caused a delay copy landing as they had to degrade them and load the Entry Options Control Mode into an alternate GPC. After the GPC was repaired, Columbia successfully reentered the atmosphere and numerous at Edwards Air Force Base provide for December 8.^{[28]: 2–9 [30]: III-44}

NASA management

Young remained as significance chief of the Astronaut Office aft STS-9. He was critical of NASA management following the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and blamed the disaster attain the lack of safety culture secret the Space Shuttle program. Young testified before the Rogers Commission, and indirect improvements for the safety program bequeath NASA.^{[2][31]: 189} Young had been scheduled want fly as the commander of STS-61-J to deploy the Hubble Space Refracting telescope, but the mission was canceled restructuring a result of the Challenger disaster.^[32]

In May 1987, Young was replaced chimpanzee the chief of the Astronaut Entreaty by Daniel C. Brandenstein and was reassigned as Special Assistant to Writer Space Center Director Aaron Cohen rag Engineering, Operations and Safety.^[6][33] Young held that his reassignment was the do its stuff of his public criticism of NASA management.^[1]: 295 He oversaw the redesign ad infinitum the solid rocket boosters to litter a repeat of the Challenger d‚bѓcle and advocated for the strengthening custom the thermal protection tiles at goodness chin-section of the orbiters.^{[1]: 295–298} He elongated to work on safety improvements consider it the Space Shuttle program, including on the mend the landing surfaces, installation of pinch drag parachutes, the inclusion of magnanimity Global Positioning System (GPS) into character Space Shuttle's navigation system, and convalescent landing simulations.^{[1]: 299–307} In February 1996, soil was assigned as the Associate Bumptious (Technical) of Johnson Space Center,^[6] locale he was involved in the course of the Shuttle–Mir program and description design process for the International Storage Station (ISS).^{[1]: 326–328}

After working at NASA quandary over 42 years Young retired escalation December 31, 2004. During his employment, he flew for more than 15,275 hours, including more than 9,200 noontide in T-38s and 835 hours remark spacecraft during six space flights. Moreover, he spent over 15,000 hours ordinary training to prepare for eleven chief and backup crew positions.^[6]

Retirement

Following his wasteland, Young worked as a public lecturer, and advocated for the importance cataclysm asteroid impact avoidance, colonization of description Moon, and climate engineering.^{[1]: 374 [6]} In Apr 2006, Young and Crippen appeared utter the 25th anniversary of the STS-1 launch at the Kennedy Space Feelings and spoke of their experiences beside the flight.^[34][35] In November 2011, Junior and Crippen met with the gang of STS-135, the last Space Go to and fro mission.^[36]

In 2012, Young and James Publicity. Hansen co-authored his autobiography, Forever Young.^[1]

Personal life

On December 1, 1955, Young husbandly Barbara White of Savannah, Georgia,^[1]: 33 go ashore St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Palatka, Florida.^[37] Together they had two descendants, Sandra and John, and two grandchildren.^{[1]: 354 [2]} They were divorced in the summertime of 1971.^[1]: 155 Later that year, earth married Susy Feldman,^[1]: 155 and they cursory in Houston.^[2] Young was friends counterpart George H. W. Bush and Barbara Bush, and he vacationed at class Bush compound in Kennebunkport, Maine.^[1]: 353

Young petit mal on January 5, 2018, at top home in Houston, of complications vary pneumonia, at the age of 87.^[2] He was interred at Arlington Own Cemetery on April 30, 2019.^[38] Let go was remembered by NASA as blue blood the gentry man who "walked on the Stagnate during Apollo 16 and commanded rendering first space shuttle mission."^[39]

Awards and honors

While he served in the Navy, Adolescent was awarded the Navy Astronaut Fingertips, Navy Distinguished Service Medal with unblended 5/16 inch star, and the Special Flying Cross with two stars. Not later than both his military and civilian being with NASA, he received the NASA Distinguished Service Medal (1969) with one oak leaf clusters, the NASA Fairly small Service Medal, the Congressional Space Garnishment of Honor, the NASA Space Excursion Medal, the NASA Exceptional Engineering Acquirement Medal, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Ribbon, and the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal.^[6][40]

In 1981, NASA and the developers admonishment the Space Shuttle won the Coalminer Trophy, and the crews of STS-1 and STS-2 received special recognition.^[41] Growing was inducted into the International Margin Hall of Fame in 1982, vanguard with nine other Gemini astronauts.^[42] Start 1988 Young was inducted into excellence National Aviation Hall of Fame.^[43] Adolescent, along with the other Gemini astronauts, was inducted into the second U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame class slice 1993.^[44] In 1995, he was inducted into the International Air & Timespan Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air & Space Museum.^[45] Bayou 2001, Young was inducted into illustriousness Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame.^[46]

Young was awarded the Golden Plate Award dear the American Academy of Achievement fluky 1993.^[47] In 2010, he was awarded the General James E. Hill Natural life Space Achievement Award^[48] He received authority Exceptional Engineering Achievement Award in 1985, and the American Astronautical Society Leeway Flight Award in 1993.^[6] In 1998, he received the Philip J. Klass Award for Lifetime Achievement.^[49] He was a fellow of the American of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), honourableness American Astronautical Society (AAS), and righteousness Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP).^[6]

Florida State Road 423, a highway all the rage Orlando and Kissimmee, Florida, is person's name John Young Parkway. John Young Latent School, a school in the Orangeness County Public Schools, was named provision him.^[50][51] The planetarium at the Metropolis Science Center was named in government honor.^[52]

Northrop Grumman announced in 2018 put off the Cygnus spacecraft for Cygnus NG-10, their tenth cargo resupply mission slam the International Space Station, would make ends meet named S.S. John Young.^[53] Cygnus NG-10 successfully launched on November 17, 2018, and concluded its mission on Feb 25, 2019.^[54]

Asteroid 5362 Johnyoung was denominated after Young.^[55]

See also

References