Buzz Aldrin

American astronaut

Dr. Edwin Eugene "Buzz" Aldrin, Jr., retired Colonel (born January 20, 1930) is an American pilot and astronaut. He was one of the Apollo 11 astronauts and the second person to have ever walked on the moon.

Buzz Aldrin
Aldrin in July 1969
Born
Edwin Eugene Aldrin, Jr.

(1930-01-20) January 20, 1930 (age 94)
NationalityAmerican
Other namesDr. Rendezvous
EducationMontclair High School
Alma mater
Occupations
Known forSecond man on the Moon
Spouses
Joan Ann Archer
(m. 1954; div. 1974)
Beverly Van Zile
(m. 1975; div. 1978)
Lois Driggs Cannon
(m. 1988; div. 2012)
Anca V Faur
(m. 2023)
Children3
Parents
  • Edwin Eugene Aldrin Sr. (father)
  • Marion Aldrin (née Moon) (mother)
Space carrer
Space career
NASA astronaut
Rank Colonel, United States Air Force
Time in space
12 days, 1 hour and 53 minutes
SelectionNASA Astronaut Group 3
Total EVAs
4
Total EVA time
7 hours and 52 minutes
Missions
Mission insignia
RetirementJuly 1, 1971
Websitewww.buzzaldrin.com
Signature

Early life

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Aldrin was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. He earned a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the military academy West Point in 1951. After postgraduate studies, he received a ScD in Aeronautics and Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1963.From his earlier activity as a fighter pilot in the Korean War he won several medals, including the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal.

Apollo 11 mission

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Aldrin was the second person in history to set foot on the Moon (after Neil Armstrong, during the Apollo 11 mission).

The Lunar Lander Module landed on the Moon on July 20, 1969.[1]

He was 39 when he set foot on the moon.

As a Presbyterian elder, Aldrin was the first and only person to hold a religious ceremony on the Moon.[2] Using a kit given to him by his pastor, he took communion during his moon mission.[3]

He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal. After the death of Michael Collins in 2021, Aldrin became the last surviving member of the Apollo 11 crew.

Later life

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Aldrin left NASA in March 1972. He has been married four times: to Joan Archer, to Beverly Zile, to Lois Driggs Cannon, and to Anca V Faur.[4] He had three children with Joan, named James, Janice, and Andrew. He married Cannon on Valentine's Day, 1988. He is the oldest contestant on the television series Dancing with the Stars. He competed in 2010.

References

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  1. Buzz Aldrin, Ken Abraham: (2009) "Magnificent Desolation", Random House Publishers, p. 26
  2. "5 faith facts about the moon landing: Space Communion and a prayer league of its own". NCR Online. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  3. Aldrin, Buzz (July 10, 2014) [1970]. "Buzz Aldrin on Communion in Space". Guideposts. Guideposts Classics. Archived from the original on April 17, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2019.
  4. "Buzz Aldrin marries for the fourth time, aged 93". BBC News. 2023-01-21. Retrieved 2023-01-22.