Buzz Aldrin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Buzz Aldrin
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Aldrin in 1969
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| Born |
Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr.
January 20, 1930 Glen Ridge, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Other names | Dr. Rendezvous |
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| Space career | |
| NASA astronaut | |
| Rank | Brigadier General, USAF |
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Time in space
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12d 1h 53m |
| Selection | NASA Group 3 (1963) |
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Total EVAs
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4 |
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Total EVA time
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7h 52m |
| Missions |
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Mission insignia
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| Retirement | July 1, 1971 |
| Scientific career | |
| Thesis | Line-of-Sight Guidance Techniques for Manned Orbital Rendezvous (1963) |
| Doctoral advisors |
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| Signature | |
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Buzz Aldrin (born Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr. on January 20, 1930) is an American former astronaut, engineer, and fighter pilot. He made three spacewalks during the 1966 Gemini 12 mission. He was also the pilot of the Lunar Module Eagle on the 1969 Apollo 11 mission.
Aldrin was the second person to walk on the Moon, right after mission commander Neil Armstrong. After Michael Collins passed away in 2021, Buzz Aldrin became the last living crew member from the Apollo 11 mission.
Born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, Aldrin studied at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1951 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He then joined the United States Air Force and became a jet fighter pilot during the Korean War. He flew 66 combat missions and shot down two enemy planes.
Later, Aldrin earned a special science degree in astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). NASA then chose him to be part of NASA's Astronaut Group 3. This made him the first astronaut with a doctoral degree. His studies on how spacecraft meet up in orbit earned him the nickname "Dr. Rendezvous" from other astronauts.
His first trip to space was in 1966 on Gemini 12. During this mission, he spent over five hours outside the spacecraft on spacewalks. Three years later, Aldrin stepped onto the Moon on July 21, 1969, at 03:15:16 UTC. This was nineteen minutes after Armstrong first touched the lunar surface. Meanwhile, command module pilot Michael Collins stayed in orbit around the Moon.
After leaving NASA in 1971, Aldrin continued to support space exploration. He especially champions the idea of sending humans to Mars. He even created a special spacecraft path called the Aldrin cycler to make travel to Mars more efficient. He has received many awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969.
Contents
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. His father was an Army pilot during World War I.
Aldrin's nickname "Buzz" came from his older sister, Fay Ann. She mispronounced "brother" as "buzzer," which then became "Buzz." He was a Boy Scout and did very well in school. He was also a talented football player in high school.
His father wanted him to go to the United States Naval Academy. But Aldrin preferred flying planes and wanted to join the Air Force. He convinced his father to help him get into the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.
Aldrin started at West Point in 1947. He was an excellent student and athlete. He graduated in 1951 with a degree in mechanical engineering.
Military Career
After West Point, Aldrin chose to join the United States Air Force. He became a second lieutenant and began flight training. He learned to fly different jet planes, including the F-86 Sabre.
In December 1952, Aldrin was sent to Korea to fight in the Korean War. He flew 66 combat missions in F-86 Sabres. He successfully shot down two enemy MiG-15 aircraft.
His first victory was on May 14, 1953. The June 8, 1953, issue of Life magazine even showed pictures from Aldrin's gun camera of the enemy pilot ejecting.
His second victory was on June 4, 1953. For his service in Korea, he received two Distinguished Flying Crosses and three Air Medals.
After his year in Korea, Aldrin became an aerial gunnery instructor. He also served as an assistant to a general at the new United States Air Force Academy. From 1956 to 1959, he flew F-100 Super Sabres in West Germany.
In 1959, Aldrin decided to go to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for graduate school. He earned a special science degree in astronautics in January 1963. His doctoral paper was about how spacecraft meet up in orbit. This work helped him get the nickname "Dr. Rendezvous."
Even though he didn't have test pilot training, which was usually required, his advanced degree helped him get selected as an astronaut.
NASA Career
Aldrin first tried to join the astronaut program in 1962 but was turned down because he wasn't a test pilot. However, in 1963, NASA changed the rules. They now accepted applicants with a lot of flying experience in jet aircraft. Aldrin had over 2,500 hours of flying time.
On October 18, 1963, Aldrin was chosen as one of fourteen new astronauts in NASA's Astronaut Group 3. He was the first astronaut with a doctoral degree. His knowledge of how spacecraft move in orbit earned him the nickname "Dr. Rendezvous."
Gemini Program
Aldrin was chosen as the pilot for the Gemini 12 mission. This was the last mission in the Gemini program. The main goal was to practice important skills for future space missions, especially extravehicular activity (EVA), or spacewalks. Earlier spacewalks had been difficult for astronauts.
NASA changed the training program to help Aldrin succeed. They used underwater training, which was better for simulating weightlessness. They also added more handholds to the spacecraft and created places where Aldrin could anchor his feet.
Gemini 12 launched on November 11, 1966. Its main goals were to meet up with a target vehicle in space, practice docking, and perform spacewalks. The radar system had problems, so Aldrin used a sextant and special charts to help his commander, Jim Lovell, guide the spacecraft. They successfully docked with the target vehicle.
Aldrin performed three spacewalks. The first was a "standup" EVA, where he stood up in the open spacecraft hatch for over two hours. The next day, he performed a "free-flight" EVA. He climbed along the spacecraft to the target vehicle and completed many tasks. He took short rest periods to avoid getting tired. This spacewalk lasted over two hours. A third standup EVA was done on November 14.
On November 15, the crew returned to Earth, splashing down in the Atlantic Ocean. They were picked up by a helicopter and taken to the aircraft carrier USS Wasp.
Apollo Program
Aldrin was assigned to the Apollo program crew with Neil Armstrong as commander and Michael Collins as command module pilot. They were the backup crew for Apollo 9, and then Apollo 8. This put them in line to be the prime crew for Apollo 11.
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There was a discussion about who would be the first to step on the Moon. Early plans suggested the lunar module pilot (Aldrin) would go first. However, due to the layout of the lunar lander, it was easier for Armstrong to exit first. Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon, with Aldrin following as the second.
Aldrin and Armstrong did not have much time for geological training. The main focus of Apollo 11 was to successfully land on the Moon and return safely to Earth.
Apollo 11: Landing on the Moon
On July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Millions of people watched the launch live around the world. The Saturn V rocket propelled Apollo 11 into Earth orbit, and then towards the Moon.
On July 19, Apollo 11 entered orbit around the Moon. On July 20, Aldrin and Armstrong entered the lunar module Eagle. At 17:44:00 UTC, Eagle separated from the command module Columbia, where Collins remained.
During the descent to the Moon's surface, Aldrin provided navigation data to Armstrong, who was piloting the Eagle. The computer gave some alarms, but Armstrong took manual control and landed the Eagle safely at 20:17:40 UTC on July 20. They had only about 25 seconds of fuel left.
Aldrin, who was an elder in his church, took a moment to give thanks after the landing. He asked everyone listening to "pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours, and to give thanks in his or her own way." He later reflected that he wished he had chosen a more universal way to express thanks, as they had come to the Moon for all humankind.
Preparations for the spacewalk began. The hatch was opened at 02:39:33 on July 21. Aldrin stepped onto the Moon at 03:15:16 UTC on July 21, 1969. This was nineteen minutes after Armstrong. Aldrin's first words on the Moon were "Beautiful view."
Aldrin and Armstrong set up the Lunar Flag Assembly. Aldrin saluted the flag while Armstrong took a picture. Aldrin also experimented with different ways to move around on the Moon's surface. During this time, President Nixon called them to congratulate them.
After the call, Aldrin took photographs and inspected the spacecraft. They set up a seismometer to detect moonquakes and a laser beam reflector. Aldrin also collected a core sample of the lunar surface. Most of the famous photos of an astronaut on the Moon from Apollo 11 are of Aldrin, because Armstrong had the camera most of the time.
Aldrin reentered the Eagle first. They loaded film and over 21 kilograms (47 pounds) of lunar material into the spacecraft. They also tossed out unneeded equipment to lighten the ascent stage for the return trip.
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At 17:54 UTC, they lifted off in Eagle's ascent stage to rejoin Collins in Columbia in lunar orbit. After docking, the ascent stage was released. Columbia then headed back to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific Ocean on July 24. The mission lasted 195 hours, 18 minutes, and 35 seconds.
Upon their return, the astronauts were kept in quarantine for 21 days as a precaution against bringing back any unknown germs from the Moon. On August 13, the three astronauts were honored with ticker-tape parades in New York and Chicago. President Richard Nixon awarded them the highest American civilian award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The astronauts then went on a 38-day world tour, visiting 22 countries. After Apollo 11, Aldrin was busy with speeches and public appearances. He also helped with the design of the Space Shuttle. On July 1, 1971, Aldrin returned to the Air Force. During his NASA career, he spent over 289 hours in space, with nearly 8 hours on spacewalks.
Post-NASA Activities
Aldrin became the Commandant of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School in California. This job was very stressful for him. He later sought help for depression.
In March 1972, Aldrin retired from the Air Force after 21 years of service.
Space Advocacy and Exploration
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After leaving NASA, Aldrin continued to be a strong supporter of space exploration. He joined the University of North Dakota to help develop their Space Studies program. To promote space exploration, he even worked with musicians to create a rap song and video called "Rocket Experience."
In 1985, Aldrin suggested a special spacecraft path called the Aldrin cycler. This path could make travel to Mars more efficient by using less fuel. He continues to research this idea.
Aldrin has often spoken about the future of space travel. In 2013, he wrote that the Moon should be seen "not as a destination but more a point of departure" for missions to Mars. In 2015, he presented a plan to NASA for astronauts to establish a colony on Mars before 2040.
Awards and Honors
Buzz Aldrin has received many awards for his service and achievements. He was awarded the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal twice and the Legion of Merit. He also received the NASA Exceptional Service Medal and the NASA Distinguished Service Medal.
He was inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame in 1982. He is also in the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame (1993), the National Aviation Hall of Fame (2000), and the New Jersey Hall of Fame (2008). The character Buzz Lightyear from the Toy Story movies was named in his honor.
In 1999, the Apollo 11 crew received the Smithsonian Institution's Langley Gold Medal for aviation. In 2011, they were awarded the New Frontier Congressional Gold Medal.
The Apollo 11 crew also received the Collier Trophy in 1969 and the 1970 Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy. They were given the international Harmon Trophy for aviators in 1970. They also have plaques on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for their contributions to television.
In 2006, the Space Foundation gave him its highest honor, the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award. Aldrin has received honorary degrees from six universities. His hometown middle school in Montclair, New Jersey, was renamed Buzz Aldrin Middle School in 2016. A crater on the Moon and an asteroid are also named after him.
In 2023, on his 93rd birthday, he received an honorary promotion to the rank of brigadier general in the United States Air Force.
Personal Life
Marriages and Children
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Buzz Aldrin has been married four times. His first marriage was to Joan Archer in 1954. They had three children: James, Janice, and Andrew. They divorced in 1974. He then married Beverly Van Zile in 1975, and they divorced in 1978. His third wife was Lois Driggs Cannon, whom he married in 1988. They divorced in 2012.
On his 93rd birthday, January 20, 2023, Aldrin announced that he had married his companion, Anca Faur.
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Other Interests
Buzz Aldrin is known to be the first Freemason to set foot on the Moon. He is a member of several Masonic lodges.
In 2007, Aldrin shared that he had a face-lift, joking about the effects of space travel. After Neil Armstrong passed away in 2012, Aldrin expressed his sadness. He had hoped they would all be together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing.
Aldrin has lived in the Los Angeles area and also in Satellite Beach, Florida.
In the Media
Film and Television Roles
Buzz Aldrin has appeared as himself in many films and TV shows, including:
- The Simpsons (1994)
- Space Ghost Coast to Coast (1997)
- Numb3rs (2006)
- 30 Rock (2010)
- Dancing with the Stars (2010)
- Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
- The Big Bang Theory (2012)
- Hell's Kitchen (2016)
Portrayed by Others
Actors who have played Buzz Aldrin include:
- Cliff Robertson in Return to Earth (1976)
- Bryan Cranston in From the Earth to the Moon (1998)
- Corey Stoll in First Man (2018)
- Felix Scott in The Crown (2019)
Video Games
- Aldrin was a consultant for the video game Buzz Aldrin's Race Into Space (1993).
Works
Buzz Aldrin has written several books, including:
- First on the Moon: A Voyage with Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. (1970)
- Return to Earth (1973)
- Men from Earth (1989)
- Encounter with Tiber (1996)
- Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home from the Moon (2009)
- Mission to Mars: My Vision for Space Exploration (2013)
- Welcome to Mars: Making a Home on the Red Planet (2015)
- No Dream Is Too High: Life Lessons from a Man Who Walked on the Moon (2016)
See also
In Spanish: Buzz Aldrin para niños
- Apollo 11 in popular culture
- List of spaceflight records
- History of aviation
