Buzz Aldrin

Buzz Aldrin

Buzz Aldrin (born Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr.; January 20, 1930) is an American engineer, former astronaut, and fighter pilot. He made history as the Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 11, the first manned lunar landing in history, on July 20, 1969. Alongside mission commander Neil Armstrong, he became one of the first two humans to set foot on the Moon, and the second person to walk on it, after Armstrong.

Early Life and Education

Buzz Aldrin was born in Montclair, New Jersey, to Edwin Eugene Aldrin Sr., a career military man, and his wife Marion Moon. He earned his nickname, "Buzz", from his younger sister's mispronunciation of "brother" as "buzzer", which he later made his legal first name.

Aldrin excelled academically, graduating third in his class from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1951 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He then joined the United States Air Force, where he flew 66 combat missions in the Korean War, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Following his service in Korea, Aldrin earned a Sc.D. in astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1963. His thesis on manned orbital rendezvous demonstrated his deep interest in space travel, which would shape his future career at NASA.

NASA Career

Aldrin was selected as a member of NASA's Astronaut Group 3 in 1963. His first spaceflight was on Gemini 12, the final mission of the Gemini program, in November 1966. During this mission, he set a new record for extravehicular activity (EVA), spending over five hours outside the spacecraft.

His next and most famous mission was Apollo 11. On July 20, 1969, Aldrin and Neil Armstrong made their historic moonwalk, fulfilling President John F. Kennedy's goal of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth before the end of the decade. Aldrin's words upon setting foot on the lunar surface were, "Beautiful view. Magnificent desolation."

Post-NASA Career

After retiring from NASA in 1971, Aldrin has remained a prominent advocate for space exploration. He devised a spacecraft system for missions to Mars known as the "Aldrin cycler" and has written several books about his experiences and space advocacy.

Personal Life

Aldrin has been married three times and has three children. He has been open about his struggles with depression and alcoholism, hoping to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health issues.

Legacy

Buzz Aldrin's contributions to space exploration and science have made him an enduring figure in American history and culture. His efforts have inspired generations to look to the stars and dream of the possibilities beyond our world.