John Young (Apollo 16) incredible signed + annotated NASA TLS draft

John Young Hilarious NASA Draft Letter to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen — Hand-Annotated and Initialed “Y” An extraordinary and wonderfully irreverent piece of astronaut correspondence from legendary NASA astronaut John Young—arguably one of the funniest, most unusual, and most memorable autograph-related letters associated with the American space program. This 8 x 10 draft letter was prepared in response to an autograph request from the office of The Honorable Lloyd Bentsen, then a United States Senator. The request reportedly included signatures from astronauts who had already passed away. Young’s proposed reply is pure dry wit: “He will have to call on a higher power than resides in the astronaut office…” Young continues with the unforgettable observation that NASA was not staffed “to do research in that area,” suggesting that perhaps the Department of Health and Human Services could assist. Rather than sending the draft, Young added a handwritten note to his secretary, believed to be Charlotte: “Charlotte, well I like my answer better but we better use Jack Murphy’s standard attached letter for this auto pest — Y” The remark captures Young’s famously sharp humor, blunt candor, and unmistakable personality. Even more importantly, it is not merely a signed astronaut item: it is a candid working document showing one of NASA’s most accomplished astronauts reacting privately to the endless stream of autograph requests received by the Astronaut Office. John Young was a Gemini, Apollo, Space Shuttle, and Shuttle-Mir veteran; commander of Apollo 16; and commander of STS-1, the first Space Shuttle mission. Documents revealing his off-duty humor and personal voice are far scarcer than routine signed photographs or covers. A true conversation piece and potential centerpiece for any serious astronaut autograph, NASA correspondence, Apollo, or Space Shuttle collection—combining exceptional provenance, handwritten content, humor, and the unmistakable hand of John Young.