David W. Garrett
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.          October 1, 1992
(Phone:  202/453-8400)

RELEASE:  92-160

ASTRONAUT JOHN YOUNG HONORED FOR 30 YEARS SERVICE

   Astronaut John Young was awarded the NASA Outstanding 
Leadership 
Medal today by NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin in a 
ceremony at NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C.

   "Today we're here to honor one of NASA's finest and 
an authentic American hero if there ever was one," 
Goldin said.  "John Young first became an astronaut 30 
years ago - September 1962 - back in the days when we 
were still flying Mercury spacecraft.  He had the right 
stuff back before we even had a name for it."

    " His first flight in space was with Gus Grissom 
aboard the very first Gemini flight," Goldin continued.  
"Later he flew with Mike Collins on Gemini 10.  In 1969, 
John made his first trip to the Moon aboard Apollo 10 
and returned three years later to become part of the 
world's most elite fraternity:  one of the 12 men to 
walk on the Moon."  

   "For most people, that would have been enough 
accomplishment for one lifetime.  But not John.  He 
waited almost a decade, then became the ultimate test 
pilot by taking the Space Shuttle for its first flight 
into space.  In 1983, he set a new record as the first 
man to make 6 flights into space."

   Young, 62, currently serves as Special Assistant to 
the Director of the Johnson Space Center, Houston, for 
Engineering, Operations and Safety.  Prior to this 
assignment, he was Chief of the Astronaut Office from 
1974 to 1987.  During this period astronaut crews 
participated in the Apollo-Soyuz joint American-Russian 
docking mission, the Space Shuttle Approach and Landing 
Test program and 25 Space Shuttle flights.

   In addition to the Outstanding Leadership Medal, 
Young is the recipient of the Space Congressional Medal 
of Honor, 3 NASA Distinguished Service medals and 70 
other major awards.  He also has been inducted into the 
National Aviation Hall of Fame.

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