John Young Leaps into History

John Young Snaps a Salute in Mid-Air

John Young Leaps into HistoryDescription: John Young Snaps a Salute in Mid-AirSize: 30 x 23 inchesCompleted: 1984Material: Acrylic on Canvas over PanelCollection room: Nothing So Hidden

Size: 30 x 23 inches

Completed: 1984

Material: Acrylic on Canvas over Panel

You feel this way when you're finally on the Moon! It's the culmination of all you've studied and worked for since you were a little kid. You didn't know it then, but all the little things you were absorbing from parents, friends, and teachers formed the foundation for the dreams you would master later on.

John has jumped straight up about 3 feet or so. On Earth, this would have been impossible because John weighs 160 pounds and the suit and backpack weigh 150 pounds, so John would have to jump against 310 pounds. But on the Moon, everything (including John) weighs only one-sixth as much. John's legs only have to push against 52 pounds.

I can recall that while moving around on the Moon, I didn't feel lighter at all but, rather, I felt stronger. I could easily lift experiments I remembered in training to be heavy. When I consciously thought about it, I knew why; but, as I moved about doing work, I was not analyzing why. It seemed obvious that, when I could move with less effort, I was stronger

Someday there will be athletic contests on the Moon, maybe even Solar System Olympics. The spacesuits will continue to improve and many astonishing records will be set. Just imagine being a high jumper, or a pole vaulter, or a shot putter, or a gymnast with a good, flexible spacesuit in light gravity. Watch out, record books! 

Editor's Note: During the first of two jumps, John was off the ground for 1.45 seconds. In lunar gravity, that means that he launched himself at an upward speed of about 1.17 m/s and rose about 0.42 meters (1.4 feet) before starting back down. He didn't get quite as high on the second jump.