Posted on 01/06/2018 1:55:03 PM PST by jmcenanly
Legendary astronaut John Young, who twice ventured into space in pioneering two-man Gemini capsules, orbited the moon and then walked on its cratered surface before commanding two space shuttle missions, including the program’s maiden flight, has passed away.
NASA confirmed the death early Saturday in a posting on Twitter: “We’re saddened by the loss of astronaut John Young, who was 87. Young flew twice to the Moon, walked on its surface & flew the first Space Shuttle mission. He went to space six times in the Gemini, Apollo & Space Shuttle programs.”
Tweeted astronaut Terry Virts: “Rest In peace John Young. You were one of my heroes as an astronaut and explorer and your passion for space will be missed.”
(Excerpt) Read more at spaceflightnow.com ...
I guess it's a comfort to know that ... Young died old (badabing)!
Became the fastest man alive during the return of Apollo 10 when it hit 24,791mph.
I’ve never liked the use of “legendary” to describe a real hero. He is not fictitious or mythical nor fabled. He was distinguished, esteemed and honored. I believe he flew to space on more missions than any other astronaut. RIP John.
Military and NASA insignia and decorations
Navy Astronaut Wings
Navy Distinguished Service Medal with gold award star
Distinguished Flying Cross with two gold award stars
China Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal with bronze star
Korean Service Medal with two stars
Presidential Unit Citation (Korea)
United Nations Service Medal
Congressional Space Medal of Honor (1981)
NASA Distinguished Service Medal (1969) with two oak leaf clusters (1981, 2004)
NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal (1992)
NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal (1994)
NASA Exceptional Service Medal (1965, 1966)[22]
With his loss, only the crew of Apollo 8 remains the lone intact crew. RIP Captain Young, you served your country well.
He is doing zero gravity jump in that picture lol. American pride and honor will never die.
“...I believe he flew to space on more missions than any other astronaut....”
Only Jerry Ross and Franklin Chang-Diaz flew more flights. Seven each. RIP John Young.
We couldn’t have done it without the muslims, right a##hat Obama?
I remember Crippen and Young, the first flight of “Columbia.” I was a newspaper editor in Colorado at the time, and I talked to a local lad who had been accepted into the Shuttle program the day those guys arrived back in Houston. They were being debriefed just down the hall.
...
It’s not well known that the shock wave from the solid rockets caused the body flap on the Shuttle to move way beyond limits and should have made it impossible for a safe reentry. John Young said he didn’t know about it in real time, but if he did he would have bailed out along with Crippen. (The first Shuttle had ejection seats.) Of course, in some miraculous way, the flap worked and they returned safely.
Young seemed to be liked by everybody and was one of our most accomplished astronauts.
We have lost another pioneer. Of the 12 men who have walked on the Moon, only 5 are left.
...
And most have cardiovascular disease from radiation exposure. But their fitness sees most of them live into their 80’s.
Godspeed, John Young.
John Young and Bob Crippen were two brave men.
Think about this....they flew the first space transportation system (STS) mission. The whole integrated system was never “launched” or tested unmanned prior to STS-1. Every other manned rocket was first tested unmanned.
The STS consisted of an orbiter, an external tank and two solid rocket boosters. They were tested individually and in some limited integrated tests,but there was no test flight prior to STS-1.
The orbiter (Enterprise) underwent many tests including drop tests out in California to test how it would perform during unpowered(no propulsion) landings.
The boosters were test fired in Utah.
One of the few integrated tests that they could do was a main engine firing that tested the external tank and the orbiter’s (Columbia’s) main engines. The tank was fueled and the main engines fired for several seconds while on the launch pad.
The number of processes/events (pyrotechnics for separation of the tank and boosters, software timing, etc) that weren’t or couldn’t be tested as part of an integrated flight is astonishing.
Can you imagine getting into a rocket system that had never had the entire system rung out prior to your first mission?
And to think that he knew all that and much more and yet still wanted to fly that mission....amazing man!
What would be going through your mind as you sat in the orbiter, a few hours prior to launch? What kind of pucker factor would that rate?
Well done, John Young! Thank you for your service!
Godspeed, John Young.
A Georgia Tech alum too! Commander of Apollo 16 and walked on the moon. Godspeed John Young!
Tough to get a corned beef sandwich while in orbit...
Young had The Right Stuff.
I met him when he consulted with the AF manned orbiting lab.
MOL was cancelled June 69 and several AF astronauts went on to fly STS,
Including Bob Crippen,mentioned here.
I was MOL meteorologist.
Thankfully he didn’t attempt to bail out. While they did have an ejection system on that first shuttle flight it was likely only one would make it out as the speeds involved would have caused quick structural failures.
I was USAF, as well. As was my older brother. As was my father (Lt. Col., USAFR). Thank you for your service, brother.
Great photo, thanks !
“He is doing zero gravity jump in that picture”
Wouldn’t that be a 1/6th gravity jump?
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