This is a retcon, but it makes sense.

It may also be more responsible than he's been the entire run of the Marvel Universe, though. From 2019, Fantastic Four #14, "Point of Origin, part one: Wanderlust" Written by Dan Slott, art by Paco Medina, color art by Jesus Aburtov.

The Fantastic Four makes an appearance at the National Air and Space Museum, as they donate "mankind's most successful crash," the Marvel-1, the FTL rocket they stole, were hit by cosmic rays, and crashed. As the team meets with some fans, one is impressed with Johnny Storm, but not the Torch: apparently Johnny was the youngest pilot in NASA? Since when? Maybe since now, but give this a moment. Less impressed with their dad's first rocket is Valeria and Franklin: Valeria points out it was woefully outdated compared to their current ships. Ben is also disappointed that he was "gonna go down in history as the guy who cratered the Marvel-1," as a little kid calls him a monster for good measure. Alicia tries to reassure him, but listening the black box flight recorder doesn't do much for his mood. To further sour things, Sue and Johnny are greeted by pilots Duchman and Sanders, who would've gone up in the Marvel-1 if they hadn't stolen their spots. Johnny apologizes, feeling they could've been in the Fantastic Four; but they defer: they got to live normal lives, without the risk of becoming a Thing. Sue and Johnny take offense.

Later, at home, as Reed begins work on a new project; Johnny checks out the stars and has a little flashback: before their first launch, Reed announcing the target, a binary star system with a habitable planet. (Supposedly, planets in binary systems are rare, and a habitable one probably several magnitudes more so.) This scene seems a lot like FF #1, but with Duchman and Sanders in the background, as Johnny says he wants to go with them, and asks to be trained as a backup pilot. Ben doesn't think he has it in him, but agrees to his training, at which Johnny surprisingly excels. When the family learns Reed's working on something, Johnny knows what it is, and wants in. As he welds some parts together, Reed notes he was using a welding torch and not his powers; but Johnny points out Reed isn't stretching, either: "Original tools and specs." "Or it doesn't count." Together, they complete the Marvel-2, a faithful re-creation of their original rocket. The reception is a bit chillier than expected: Valeria and Franklin bail, since to them the rocket looked about as comfortable as a 50's aluminum trailer. And Ben furiously refuses, even though Reed says the shields were ten times stronger in this version.

As Ben complains, Alicia knows full well he's going, especially when he calls to wish them well and sees H.E.R.B.I.E in the pilot seat! Still, when he gets there, Ben realizes it wasn't even a working H.E.R.B.I.E, and all the controls had been scaled for him. All together now, the Four set off--to what? The unknown, even though they probably could've taken a bit more of a look ahead of time, but it's fun.

I may have to look for a trade of this, since it looks like this ran until #19. It had been retconned some time back to give Sue more of an active role; but feels like they are just getting around to the same for Johnny.