Buzz Aldrin

Buzz Aldrin, born Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr., is an American former astronaut, aeronautical engineer, and fighter pilot. He became famous as the second person to walk on the Moon after Neil Armstrong during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. Before that, he made three spacewalks as pilot of the 1966 Gemini 12 mission.

Aldrin was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point. He served as a jet fighter pilot during the Korean War, flying 66 combat missions. After earning a Doctor of Science degree in astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he joined NASA as part of Astronaut Group 3, becoming the first astronaut with a doctoral degree.

On Apollo 11, Aldrin stepped onto the Moon nineteen minutes after Armstrong, while Michael Collins waited in orbit. After leaving NASA, he retired from the United States Air Force and wrote books about his experiences. Aldrin still supports space exploration, especially plans for a human mission to Mars, and created the Aldrin cycler, a smart way to travel to Mars.

Early life and education

Buzz Aldrin was born Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr. on January 20, 1930, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. His parents were Edwin Eugene Aldrin Sr. and Marion Aldrin (née Moon). Buzz had two older sisters named Madeleine and Fay Ann. His nickname "Buzz" came from his sister Fay, who mispronounced "brother" as "buzzer" when she was a child.

Buzz did very well in school and was also good at sports, playing football and pole vault. He went to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, where he graduated third in his class in 1951 with a degree in mechanical engineering.

Air Force career

Buzz Aldrin chose to join the United States Air Force after graduating from West Point. He trained to fly airplanes at Bartow Air Base in Florida and later flew fighter jets at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas. During the Korean War, he flew 66 combat missions and shot down two enemy MiG-15 planes.

After the war, Aldrin became an instructor and later earned a doctorate degree in astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He hoped this would help him become an astronaut. He then worked on projects to improve spaceflight technology with NASA.

Astronaut career

Buzz Aldrin joined NASA’s astronaut program in 1963 after meeting the required flying experience. He became known for his expertise in orbital mechanics and was nicknamed “Dr. Rendezvous” by fellow astronauts. His skills in mission planning and trajectory analysis were key to many space missions.

Aldrin first flew with Gemini 12 in 1966, where he completed three spacewalks to test new techniques and equipment. Later, he joined Neil Armstrong on Apollo 11 in 1969. During this mission, Aldrin became the second person to walk on the Moon after Armstrong. Together, they conducted experiments, planted a flag, and collected samples before returning to Earth. Their successful mission marked a major achievement in space exploration history.

Post-NASA activities

Buzz Aldrin worked as Commandant of the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Even though he lacked some required experience, his background in space made him a good fit since part of the training involved astronaut skills. However, he faced challenges with his superior officer and stress from two plane crashes, though no one was hurt.

After leaving NASA, Aldrin wrote books about his life, sharing his struggles with sadness and drinking. He eventually stopped drinking in 1978 and tried to help others with similar problems. In 2002, he got into a public argument with a man who did not believe the Moon landings happened. Later, Aldrin spoke about seeing something unusual in space, but clarified it was likely part of the spacecraft they were using. In 2016, at age 86, he became the oldest person to visit the South Pole in Antarctica.

Mission to Mars advocacy

After leaving NASA, Buzz Aldrin kept working to encourage space exploration. In 1985, he joined the University of North Dakota to help create their Space Studies program. He also worked with famous musicians like Snoop Dogg and Quincy Jones to make a song called "Rocket Experience" to support his charity, ShareSpace.

Aldrin suggested a special path for spacecraft called the Aldrin cycler, which makes travel to Mars cheaper by using less fuel. He still studies this idea today. In 2013, he wrote about wanting humans to travel to Mars instead of just going back to the Moon, hoping we could live on Mars someday. In 2015, he shared a big plan with NASA to start a Mars colony before the year 2040.

Awards and honors

Buzz Aldrin received many awards for his achievements in space exploration. In 1969, he was given the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal for his role as the Lunar Module pilot on Apollo 11. He also received the NASA Exceptional Service Medal and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal for his work in the Gemini and Apollo programs.

Aldrin was inducted into several halls of fame, including the International Space Hall of Fame in 1982 and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1993. He was also honored with the Langley Gold Medal for aviation and the Congressional Gold Medal. The character Buzz Lightyear in the movie Toy Story was named after him.

Personal life

Buzz Aldrin has been married four times. His first marriage was in 1954, and he had three children. His later marriages also ended in divorce. In 2023, he married for the fourth time.

Aldrin supports the Republican Party and has endorsed several political candidates, including Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. He is also a member of the Freemason community and has been involved in various lodges. Aldrin has lived in the Los Angeles area since 1985.

In the media

Buzz Aldrin has been portrayed in many movies and television shows. Actors such as Cliff Robertson, Xander Berkeley, Bryan Cranston, James Marsters, Corey Stoll, Chris Agos, Felix Scott, Roger Craig Smith, Henry Winkler, Bryn Thomas, and Colin Woodell have all played him in different productions.

He also worked as a consultant for the video game Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space that came out in 1993.

Works

Buzz Aldrin has written many books about his adventures in space. Some of his popular books include First on the Moon, Return to Earth, and Men from Earth. He also wrote science fiction stories like Encounter with Tiber and The Return. Later in his career, Aldrin wrote books for younger readers, such as Welcome to Mars: Making a Home on the Red Planet, sharing his ideas about space exploration and inspiring future generations.

Main articles: [First on the Moon: A Voyage with Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, Edwin E. Aldrin Jr.], [Encounter with Tiber], [The Return], [Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home from the Moon], [Mission to Mars: My Vision for Space Exploration]