1. Buzz Aldrin is an American engineer, as well as a former astronaut and fighter pilot. He is best known for being one of the first two humans to walk on the Moon during Apollo 11.
2. Edwin Eugene Aldrin, Jr. was born on January 20, 1930 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. His father was an army aviator during World War I and later became an executive at Standard Oil. Aldrin had two older sisters, Madeleine and Fay Ann. Aldrin earned his nickname, which later became his legal name, “Buzz” because his sister Fay mispronounced “brother” as “buzzer”, later shortening it to “Buzz”.
3. Aldrin graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1951. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering. Aldrin joined the United States Air Force and served as a fighter pilot during the Korean War. During his service, he flew 66 combat missions.
4. Aldrin earned a Doctor of Science degree in astronautics and dreamed of exploring space himself one day. His initial application to join NASA was turned down in 1962; however, his dream came true when he was selected to be a member of NASA’s Astronaut Group 3 a year later. He was the first astronaut with a doctorate degree. His first mission was in 1966. During this mission, Aldrin spent five hours on work outside of the spacecraft. He specialized in mission planning, trajectory analysis, and flight plans.
5. On July 21, 1969, Aldrin set foot on the Moon, preceding Neil Armstrong by 9 minutes during Apollo 11. Armstrong and Aldrin were the first people to walk on the Moon. Aldrin’s first words there were “Beautiful view", and Armstrong responded "Isn't that something? Magnificent sight out here." Aldrin answered, "Magnificent desolation." The two men erected the American flag, which Aldrin saluted, and Armstrong snapped a photo of this. This became an iconic photo.
6. In 1971, Aldrin left NASA and became Commandant of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. In 1972, he retired from the Air Force after 21 years of service. Aldrin continued to advocate for space exploration. He runs an educational non-profit foundation on the benefits of STEM called ShareSpace. Aldrin continues to support and research a human mission to Mars. He authored two autobiographies, in which he discussed his problems with depression and alcoholism after leaving NASA.
7. Buzz Aldrin has received numerous awards for his contributions and achievements. He earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969. He was also inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1993. Buzz Aldrin holds an important spot of honor in America’s history.