ORLANDO, Fla. – Most people in Central Florida recognize the name John Young because it appears on a major Orlando road and even an elementary school. But long before the parkway was named in his honor, Young had already cemented his place as one of the most influential astronauts in American history.
“John Young is an Orlando native. He is the only astronaut from Orlando, period,” said Charles Jeffrey, a board member with the American Space Museum.
Young’s career helped define NASA’s human spaceflight program. He remains the only astronaut to fly in the Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle programs – three of the most critical chapters in space exploration. He was also one of only three astronauts to travel to the moon twice and one of just twelve people in history to walk on its surface…