Former Navy pilot John Young, the only NASA astronaut to fly in space as a crewmember aboard the Gemini, Apollo and space shuttle programs, died Friday following complications from pneumonia. He was also the first astronaut to fly in space on six different occasions. Young was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1988.
NASA Pioneer John Young Dead at 87
Key Takeaways:
- John Young, a legendary NASA astronaut and former Navy pilot, passed away, leaving an unparalleled legacy in human space exploration.
- He uniquely flew in space as a crewmember on the Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle programs, and was the first astronaut to complete six spaceflights.
- Young commanded two historic "first flights" — Gemini 3 and STS-1 (the inaugural Space Shuttle mission) — and famously walked on the moon as commander of Apollo 16.
- Revered as "the astronaut's astronaut," he also served as NASA's chief astronaut for over a decade and was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
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