John W. Young (1930-2018) was an astronaut and NASA
executive. He received more than eighty major awards for his career
in aerospace, including six honorary doctorates.
James R. Hansen is professor of history and former director
of the Honors College at Auburn University. He has been associated
with the NASA History Program for the past thirty-one years, and is
the author of First Man: The Life of Neil Armstrong and coauthor of
Truth, Lies, and O-Rings: Inside the Space Shuttle ""Challenger""
Disaster.
Young was the best engineer and best test pilot of all the
astronauts of the early space age. Without question, he was the
most important astronaut of the space shuttle era. He was the best
ever chief of the Astronaut Office in Houston. Nobody matched
him.""- Alan L. Bean;
""As the only astronaut to fly the Gemini, Apollo, and Space
Shuttle ships, John's passion for safety was the signature emphasis
(even obsession) of his career.""- Glynn S. Lunney;
""Young has been at the center of human spaceflight since the
mid-1960s, and his revealing autobiography speaks to internal
issues, external possibilities, and the commitment of this
individual to the movement of humanity beyond earth.""- Roger D.
Launius;
""A fascinating life.""- Space Review;
""An intensely enjoyable book.""- AmericaSpace.com;
""If you have been waiting for a book from the only moonwalker
without one you will not be disappointed with Forever Young. John
W. Young, with James R. Hansen, has written the epic story if his
life not only of adventure, but service to his country and
inspiration for the future.""- Ad Astra;
""An incredible read, fast paced at times with great insight into
Young's mind as he takes you with him as he soars into earth orbit
and upon the vast ocean of space.""- Examiner.com;
“Young was the best engineer and best test pilot of all the
astronauts of the early space age. Without question, he was the
most important astronaut of the space shuttle era. He was the best
ever chief of the Astronaut Office in Houston. Nobody matched
him.”- Alan L. Bean;
""John Young has been at the center of human spaceflight since the
mid-1960s, and his revealing autobiography speaks to internal
issues, external possibilities, and the commitment of this
individual to the movement of humanity beyond earth.""- Roger D.
Launius, senior curator, space history, Smithsonian National Air
and Space Museum;
""Young covers over forty years of NASA history in this
breakthrough memoir, one that will inspire admiration for his
achievements but also raise questions about the overall American
space-faring enterprise.""- Michael H. Gorn, author of NASA: The
Complete Illustrated History;
""Engineer, astronaut, and moonwalker, Young looks back over his
participation in the space program, from the days of testing
fighter jets in the 1950s to the last space shuttle mission. He
chronicles his first experience with leaking O-ring seals as (the
flaw that destroyed the space shuttle Challenger) a test
pilotsetting the stage for his continued obsession with flight
safety and his guilt at not personally checking every aspect of the
design for the Challenger. Between these two events lay the heady
early days of the astronaut program, Gemini missions, loops around
the moon, and finally, landing there as leader of the Apollo 16
mission. Staying with NASA, in 1974Young became chief of the NASA
Astronaut office in Houston, involved in every aspect of the
shuttles, and flew the first one. Packed with minute technical
detail that space enthusiasts will devour, Young's story also
reveals personal side of the program. His pain at the loss of his
pal, Gus Grissom, in a 1967 equipment test, is still raw, as is the
loss of the shuttle crews. There are also tales of pranks, mishaps,
and corned beef in space. At 82, Young hasn't lost his enthusiasm
for space exploration, one that he communicates on every page.""-
Publishers Weekly
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