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Aldrin, Edwin Eugene 'Buzz'
Aldrin
Aldrin
Credit: www.spacefacts.de
American test pilot astronaut 1963-1971. Second person on the moon.

Status: Inactive; Active 1963-1971. Born: 1930-01-20. Spaceflights: 2 . Total time in space: 12.08 days. Birth Place: Glen Ridge, New Jersey.

Flew 66 combat missions and destroyed two MIG-15 aircraft in Korea.

Official NASA Biography as of June 2016:Buzz Aldrin, Ph.D. (Colonel, USAF, Ret.)
NASA Astronaut (former)

PERSONAL DATA: Born January 20, 1930, in Montclair, New Jersey. Two sons, one daughter. Married to the former Lois Driggs Cannon of Phoenix. Their combined family is comprised of six grown children and one grandson.

EDUCATION: Graduated from Montclair High School, Montclair, New Jersey; received a bachelor of science degree in 1951 from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, graduating third in his class; and a doctorate of science in Astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge. His thesis was "Guidance for Manned Orbital Rendezvous." Aldrin has honorary degrees from six colleges and universities.

SPECIAL HONORS: Aldrin has received numerous decorations and awards, including the Presidential Medal for Freedom in 1969, the Robert J. Collier Trophy, the Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy, and the Harmon International Trophy in 1967.

NASA EXPERIENCE: Aldrin was one of the third group of astronauts named by NASA in October 1963.

On November 11, 1966, he and command pilot James Lovell were launched into space in the Gemini 12 spacecraft on a 4-day flight, which brought the Gemini program to a successful close. Aldrin established a new record for extravehicular activity (EVA), spending 5-1/2 hours outside the spacecraft.

He served as lunar module pilot for Apollo 11, July 16-24, 1969, the first manned lunar landing mission. Aldrin followed Neil Armstrong onto the lunar surface on July 20, 1969, completing a 2-hour and 15 minute lunar EVA.

In July 1971, Aldrin resigned from NASA. Aldrin has logged 289 hours and 53 minutes in space, of which, 7 hours and 52 minutes were spent in EVA.

EXPERIENCE: Prior to joining NASA, Aldrin flew 66 combat missions in F-86's while on duty in Korea. At Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, he served as an aerial gunnery instructor. Following his assignment as aide to the dean of faculty at the Air Force Academy, Aldrin flew F-100's as a flight commander at Bitburg, Germany. He went on to receive a doctorate at MIT, and was then assigned to the Gemini Target Office of the Air Force Space Systems Division, Los Angeles. In March 1972, Aldrin retired from Air Force active duty, after 21 years of service. As a USAF jet fighter pilot during the Korean War, he shot down two MIG 15 aircraft.

Since retiring from NASA, the Air Force, and his position as commander of the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in 1972, he authored an autobiography, "Return to Earth". Aldrin has remained at the forefront of efforts to ensure a continued leading role for America in manned space exploration to advance his life-long commitment to venturing outward in space.

In addition, he lectures throughout the world on his unique perspective of America's future in space. He has just authored a book about the Apollo Program titled "Men from Earth".

Dr. Aldrin is President of Starcraft Enterprise, Laguna Beach, California.

JANUARY 1996

This is the only version available from NASA. Updates must be sought direct from the above named individual.

Official Biography

NAME: Buzz Aldrin

BIRTHPLACE AND DATE: Aldrin was born Jan. 20, 1930, in Montclair, N.J.

EDUCATION: Aldrin received a Bachelor of Science degree from the U. S. Military Academy in 1951, graduating third in his class. In 1961-1962 he attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he received a Doctorate of Science with the thesis "Guidance for Manned Orbital Rendezvous".

EXPERIENCE: Aldrin entered the Air Force and earned his pilot wings in 1952. As an F-86 fighter pilot in Korea he flew 66 combat missions and destroyed two MIG-15 aircraft. He later served as an aerial gunner instructor at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, as aide to the dean of faculty at the Air Force Academy, and with an F-100 squadron in Germany. Following his studies at MIT, Aldrin was assigned to the Gemini Target Office of the Air Force Systems Command in Los Angeles.

Aldrin was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 1963. The concept of space rendezvous he formulated at MIT was selected and modified for all NASA rendezvous missions. Aldrin was able to see his theories in work aboard Gemini 12, a four-day mission he flew with James A. Lovell beginning Nov. 11, 1966. This final Gemini mission proved that NASA and its astronauts had mastered all of the difficulties that occurred earlier in the programme. Gemini 12 docked with an Agena target, and Aldrin made a record 5.5 hour space walk. Using handholds and foot restraints and resting frequently he was able to do all his tasks without the difficulties experienced on earlier EVA's.

On July 20, 1969, Aldrin became the second human being to set foot on the moon. He was joined Neil Armstrong on the surface for two hours of ceremonies and moon rock collecting. The next day the astronauts' Lunar Module lifted off from the lunar surface and docked with the Apollo 11 command module, piloted by Mike Collins, in lunar orbit. Armstrong and Aldrin transferred their moon rocks to the command module. The Lunar Module ascent stage was cast off and the crew rocketed to a safe recovery in the Pacific Ocean.

Aldrin returned to active Air Force duty in 1971 and was assigned as commander of the Test Pilots School at Edwards Air Force Base, California. He encountered personal emotional difficulties and retired from the Air Force as a Colonel in 1972. He remained active in space activism, serving as President of Starcraft Enterprises of Laguna Beach, California and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the National Space Society. He authored three books: "Return to Earth" which documents his difficulties following the first moon landing, "Men From Earth", and the a science-fiction novel, "Encounter With Tiber".



More at: Aldrin.

Family: Astronaut. Country: USA. Spacecraft: Gemini. Flights: Gemini 9, Gemini 12, Apollo 8, Apollo 11. Projects: Apollo. Agency: USAF. Bibliography: 5098.
Photo Gallery

Apollo 11Apollo 11
Astronaut Edwin Aldrin walks on lunar surface near leg of Lunar Module
Credit: NASA



1930 January 20 - .
1963 June 5 - .
1963 October 17 - .
1963 October 18 - .
1964 February 3 - .
1964 March 25 - . LV Family: Atlas. Launch Vehicle: Atlas SLV-3 Agena D.
1965 February 16 - .
1966 June 3 - . 13:39 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC19. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan II GLV.
1966 November 11 - . 20:46 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC19. LV Family: Titan. Launch Vehicle: Titan II GLV.
1966 November 12 - . 16:15 GMT - .
1966 November 13 - . 15:34 GMT - .
1966 November 14 - . 14:52 GMT - .
1966 November 15 - .
1968 December 21 - . 12:51 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: LUT1. Launch Vehicle: Saturn V.
1969 June 27 - .
1969 July 16 - . 13:32 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: LUT1. Launch Vehicle: Saturn V.
1969 July 21 - .
1969 July 21 - . 02:39 GMT - .
1969 July 24 - .
1969 August 7 - .

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