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"It’s Not What I’ve Done; It’s What We Gotta Do"

Written by: developer

“It’s not what I’ve done; it’s what we gotta do.”

That was how former Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle Astronaut Captain John W. Young, USN (Retired), framed his brief, but powerful acceptance speech April 13 when he was awarded the Space Foundation’s highest honor – the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award. Young called for the rapid industralization of the Moon and Mars, saying that we “owe it to our kids and grandkids” to explore a settle new worlds for them. He said that there are many reasons to explore space, but chief among them is the attititude of “let’s go do it.”

Young also thanked the audience, primarily space leaders participating in the 26th National Space Symposium, because, he said, many were responsible for helping him and other astronauts do what they do. The Hill award is presented annually at the National Space Symposium.

Space Foundation Chairman of the Board Bill Ballhaus, Ph.D., presented the award at a luncheon honoring Young, sponsored by Raytheon. Bill Hart, vice president, space systems for Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, was the luncheon host.

Young, who walked on the Moon during the Apollo 16 mission in 1972 and piloted the first Space Shuttle in 1981, is the only astronaut to have piloted four different classes of spacecraft: Gemini, Apollo Command/Service Module, Apollo Lunar Module, and Space Shuttle. During his 42 years with NASA, Young flew six missions including two to the Moon, set a lunar rover speed record on the Moon’s surface, and was the first person to orbit the Moon alone during the Apollo 10 mission.

To see Young’s acceptance speech and a video chronicling his career, click here.

 

This article is part of Space Watch: May 2010 (Volume: 9, Issue: 5).


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