The Georgia Tech Archives is pleased to announce the recent arrival of the personal papers and collection of John W. Young, a 1952 Georgia Tech graduate and NASA’s longest-serving astronaut. Young was the only astronaut to fly in the Gemini, Apollo, and space shuttle programs. Georgia Tech has described Young as “the most experienced astronaut of all time.”

Susy Young, John Young’s wife, is donating significant materials from his career in accordance with his wishes, helping ensure the materials are preserved and made accessible for research.

The John W. Young collection includes materials related to the U.S. space program, with a strong focus on the Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle programs. The collection includes binders, technical manuals, memoranda, mission reports, training materials, and published scientific volumes, many directly connected to Young’s work as an astronaut.

A large portion of the collection consists of mission-related binders and technical materials from the Apollo program, including flight plans, operational handbooks, and engineering documentation. Several items show signs of use, including annotations, signatures, and other markings. The collection also includes Gemini-era training and simulation materials, along with Space Shuttle documents focused on safety, operations, and program development.

The donation strengthens the Georgia Tech Library’s space history holdings with materials documenting Young’s work across three major NASA programs. The collection will support research, teaching, and public engagement related to NASA history, aerospace engineering, and Georgia Tech’s connections to the space program.

Watch an interview with Archives and Special Collections Manager Alex McGee during the collection’s delivery to the Library Records Center.

The John W. Young collection is currently being processed and will be featured in an upcoming space exhibit planned for Fall 2027.