Date of Birth: September 24, 1930
Zodiac Sign: Libra
Date of Death: January 5, 2018
Biography
John Watts Young was an American astronaut, naval officer, and aviator who became one of the most accomplished astronauts in the history of space exploration. Born on September 24, 1930, in San Francisco, California, Young grew up in Orlando, Florida. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1952. Young joined the U.S. Navy, serving as a test pilot before being selected as part of NASA’s second group of astronauts in 1962. He flew on six space missions, including Gemini 3, Gemini 10, Apollo 10, Apollo 16, and two space shuttle missions (STS-1 and STS-9). Notably, he walked on the moon during the Apollo 16 mission in 1972. John Young’s career spanned over four decades, and he was known for his technical expertise and calm demeanor under pressure. He retired from NASA in 2004 and lived a life of relative quiet until his passing on January 5, 2018.
5 Interesting Facts about John Young
1. John Young was the first person to fly into space six times across three different programs: Gemini, Apollo, and the Space Shuttle.
2. During the Apollo 16 mission, Young and Charles Duke spent nearly three days on the lunar surface, conducting scientific experiments and collecting samples.
3. He served as the Chief of the Astronaut Office from 1974 to 1987, overseeing the selection and training of new astronauts.
4. Young was known for his sense of humor; he famously smuggled a corned beef sandwich aboard Gemini 3, earning both admiration and reprimand.
5. He logged over 15,000 hours of flying time in different aircraft and spacecraft during his career.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from John Young
1. “I’ve been very lucky. I’ve flown six times in space, and all I can say is that I’d like to go again.”
2. “I think we need to be a multi-planet species. I think the first step is to go back to the Moon.”
3. “You don’t concentrate on risks. You concentrate on results. No risk is too great to prevent the necessary job from getting done.”
4. “The Moon is a nice place, but it’s not Mars.”
5. “Space is a frontier that continues to challenge us all.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
John Young’s highest net worth is estimated to have been around $1 million at the time of his death.
Children
John Young had two children with his wife, Susy Feldman: Sandra Young and John Young Jr.
Relevant Links
1. [NASA Biography](https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/young_john.pdf
2. [Wikipedia Page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Young_(astronaut
4. [The Guardian Obituary](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/jan/06/john-young-obituary
5. [Space.com Tribute](https://www.space.com/39323-john-young-astronaut-dies.html
