All Astronauts
LEGENDRetiredNASA
LEGENDRetiredNASANASA·🇺🇸 United States·Born 1930
Buzz Aldrin
Second person to walk on the Moon (July 20, 1969)
290h
Hours in Space
2
Missions
4
EVAs
8h
EVA Time
Magnificent desolation.
Mars is there, waiting to be reached.
Exploration is wired into our brains. If we can see the horizon, we want to know what's beyond.
In this modern world, where so many seek security above all else, the space program is a glorious anachronism.
Inspirations
Charles LindberghEd White
What they aspire to
He has spent decades advocating that humanity establish a permanent human presence on Mars.
Biography
Second person to walk on the Moon. Lunar Module Pilot for Apollo 11, he pioneered spacewalk techniques during Gemini 12.
Before NASAU.S. Air Force fighter pilot who flew 66 combat missions in Korea before earning a Sc.D. in astronautics from MIT with a thesis on orbital rendezvous.
Records & Firsts
Notable accomplishments by Buzz Aldrin
- Second person to walk on the Moon (July 20, 1969)
- First person to hold a religious ceremony on the Moon
Mission Timeline
- Pilot
Gemini
Gemini 12
Launch: Nov 11, 1966Landing: Nov 15, 1966Duration: 4 days- Three EVAs totaling over 5 hours
- Lunar Module Pilot
Apollo CSM/LM
Apollo 11
Launch: Jul 16, 1969Landing: Jul 24, 1969Duration: 8 days- Second person to walk on the Moon
Beyond the Mission
Hobbies & Interests
scuba divingrunning
Causes They Champion
Human Mars exploration (Aldrin Cycler)STEM education through the ShareSpace Foundation
Languages
English
Awards & Honors
- Presidential Medal of Freedom
- Congressional Gold Medal
- NASA Distinguished Service Medal
- Legion of Merit
Authored
- Return to Earth(1973)
- Men from Earth(1989)
- Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home from the Moon(2009)
- Mission to Mars: My Vision for Space Exploration(2013)
- No Dream Is Too High: Life Lessons From a Man Who Walked on the Moon(2016)
Fun fact
His nickname 'Buzz' came from his younger sister's mispronunciation of 'brother' as 'buzzer'; he legally changed his first name to Buzz in 1988.
Item flown to space
Communion bread and wine, which he privately consumed on the lunar surface inside Eagle.
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