Buzz Aldrin

Buzz Aldrin
Name	Buzz Aldrin
Caption	Aldrin in July 1969
Birth name	Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr.
Birth date	20 January 1930
Birth place	Glen Ridge, New Jersey, U.S.
Education	United States Military Academy (BS), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (ScD)
Occupation	Astronaut, fighter pilot, engineer
Spouse	* Joan Archer (m. 1954; div. 1974) * Beverly Van Zile (m. 1975; div. 1978) * Lois Driggs Cannon (m. 1988; div. 2012) * Anca Faur (m. 2023)
Awards	Presidential Medal of Freedom, Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, NASA Distinguished Service Medal

Buzz Aldrin. Edwin Eugene "Buzz" Aldrin Jr. is an American former astronaut, United States Air Force officer, and engineer who made history as the Lunar Module pilot on Apollo 11, becoming the second person to walk on the Moon after Neil Armstrong. A graduate of the United States Military Academy and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he earned a doctorate in astronautics, his pioneering work on orbital rendezvous techniques was critical to the success of the Apollo program. Following his NASA career, Aldrin has remained a prominent advocate for space exploration, authoring numerous books and proposing concepts for future missions to Mars.

Early life and education

Born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, to Edwin Eugene Aldrin Sr., a United States Army Air Corps officer, and Marion Moon, his nickname "Buzz" originated from his sister's mispronunciation of "brother". He attended Montclair High School before receiving an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating third in his class in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. Aldrin then commissioned into the United States Air Force, serving as a fighter pilot during the Korean War, where he flew F-86 Sabre jets and was credited with two aerial victories. After his combat service, he pursued advanced studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, earning a Doctor of Science in astronautics in 1963; his thesis on manned orbital rendezvous laid essential groundwork for future NASA missions.

NASA career

Selected as part of NASA's third group of astronauts in 1963, Aldrin's expertise in orbital mechanics earned him the nickname "Dr. Rendezvous". His first spaceflight was as pilot on Gemini 12 in 1966, the final mission of the Gemini program, where he successfully performed a record-setting five-hour extra-vehicular activity (EVA), proving techniques for working in the vacuum of space. This mission, commanded by James Lovell, demonstrated critical procedures for spacecraft docking and astronaut activity outside the vehicle, directly contributing to the objectives of the Apollo program. His performance on Gemini 12 solidified his reputation and positioned him for a role on a lunar mission.

Apollo 11 and Moon landing

Assigned as Lunar Module pilot for Apollo 11 alongside commander Neil Armstrong and command module pilot Michael Collins, Aldrin played a crucial role in the historic landing on the Moon on July 20, 1969. Approximately twenty minutes after Armstrong's first steps onto the Lunar surface at the Sea of Tranquility, Aldrin descended the ladder of the Eagle module, describing the view as "magnificent desolation". During their two-and-a-half-hour moonwalk, the astronauts deployed scientific experiments like the Passive Seismic Experiment Package and the Laser Ranging Retroreflector, collected lunar samples, and received a congratulatory telephone call from President Richard Nixon. Their return to Earth and subsequent quarantine in the Lunar Receiving Laboratory were followed by an international Goodwill Tour and celebrations including parades in New York City and Chicago.

Post-NASA activities

After leaving NASA and retiring from the United States Air Force in 1972, Aldrin has been a tireless public advocate for sustained space exploration. He developed the "Aldrin cycler", a concept for a spacecraft trajectory between Earth and Mars, and founded the ShareSpace Foundation to promote science education. He has authored several books, including the autobiographies *Return to Earth* and *Magnificent Desolation*, and novels like *Encounter with Tiber*. Aldrin has consistently advised organizations like the National Space Society and appeared frequently before the United States Congress to advocate for a human mission to Mars, often critiquing the direction of NASA's Artemis program.

Personal life

Aldrin has been married four times: to Joan Archer, with whom he had three children, Beverly Van Zile, Lois Driggs Cannon, and, in 2023, to Anca Faur. He has been open about his struggles with clinical depression and alcoholism following his NASA career, detailing these challenges in his writings and interviews. A resident of Satellite Beach, Florida, Aldrin remains active in public life, making appearances at events like the Super Bowl and on television programs such as *The Big Bang Theory* and *Dancing with the Stars*, helping to maintain public fascination with spaceflight.

Awards and honors

Aldrin's accomplishments have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, presented by President Richard Nixon, and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal. His military decorations include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He has received the Harmon International Trophy for aviation and the Langley Gold Medal from the Smithsonian Institution. In 2011, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, and various institutions, including Montclair State University and several public schools, bear his name.

Category:American astronauts Category:Apollo 11 Category:United States Air Force officers Category:Moonwalkers