Larry Young

Former astronaut Larry Young may have spent his long career in a futuristic field, but he knows scholars will always need the history held by libraries. "A Google search is not a substitute for library scholarship," said Young, the MIT Apollo Program Professor of Astronautics.

Young speaks from personal experience. As an MIT alumnus and member of the faculty for 43 years, he has benefited from MIT's research libraries for decades. A widely-recognized expert in the field of aerospace medicine, Young has focused his research on the interaction of the eyes and inner ear—the components that determine motion sickness during spaceflight—and created models widely used in the field. In addition to using library resources, Young has also added to them; his own books on motion sensation are part of the collection.

In 1962, Young co-founded the MIT Man Vehicle Laboratory, which focuses on interdisciplinary research on the effects of air and space travel on pilots and passengers. He trained at the Johnson Space Center as a payload specialist astronaut before becoming the first holder of the newly-created Apollo Program chair in Astronautics. In 1995, NASA recognized his development of an expert system for astronauts with a Space Act Award. He has been elected to two National Academies, the Institute of Medicine and the National Academy of Engineering, as well as the International Academy of Astronautics.

Throughout his long and prestigious career, Young has kept in mind the fundamental role of the MIT Libraries in advancing knowledge. Recently he established a gift annuity to support the Aeronautics and Astronautics Library. In return, Young will receive a guaranteed, fixed income—much of which will be tax-free—for the rest of his life. He also received a charitable income tax deduction in the year of his gift. But more than these benefits, Young values the satisfaction of knowing his gift will make a difference to the library.

"I chose to make a gift now rather than just including MIT in my will," he said, "because I want to enjoy it while I'm still around. This gift is a legacy to future students and to my grandchildren, who will someday find in the library the value of what's gone before them, and perhaps share my appreciation of MIT."

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