posted 10-19-2021 04:55 PM               

Newly-named 'Capt. John Young Hangar' honors legendary NASA astronaut

NASA's longest-serving astronaut now has his name on one of the space agency's longest-serving structures.

Johnson Space Center director Vanessa Wyche led a ceremony on Tuesday (Oct. 19) to name Hangar 276 at Ellington Field in Houston for the late John Young. A NASA employee for more than 40 years, Young was one of only three astronauts to fly to the moon twice, the ninth person to walk on the lunar surface and the only astronaut (to date) to launch on four different types of spacecraft.

"Hangar 276 has been at the center of flight operations for the United States' astronauts since the inception of our flight program," said Wyche, addressing an audience of current and former astronauts, NASA managers, members of Young's family and other invited guests. "John Young performed a critical role as a pilot and as an astronaut. He also inspired a generation of aviation technicians and engineers who support the projects in and around the hangar."