John Young
John Young was a U.S. astronaut who participated in the Gemini, Apollo, and space shuttle programs. He was the first astronaut to make five—and later the first to make six—spaceflights.
Astronaut
September 24, 1930
January 05, 2018
87
John W. Young, an accomplished American astronaut and naval officer, was born in San Francisco, California. He played a significant role in the Gemini, Apollo, and space shuttle programs, becoming the first astronaut to undertake six spaceflights. Among his notable achievements were walking on the moon as the ninth person during the Apollo 16 mission and commanding the inaugural space shuttle mission. Additionally, Young piloted the first manned Gemini spacecraft and held the position of Chief of NASA’s Astronaut Office. He passed away at the age of 87 on January 5, 2018, in Houston, Texas.