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 was a pioneering NASA astronaut, uniquely flying as a crewmember in the Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle programs, and was the first to fly in space a record six times.
- His distinguished career included commanding several critical "firsts," such as Gemini 3, Apollo 16 where he walked on the moon, and STS-1, the inaugural Space Shuttle mission.
- Young served as NASA’s chief astronaut for over a decade and was celebrated as the "astronaut’s astronaut" for his poise, engineering acumen, and tenacious commitment to human space exploration.
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