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Buzz AldrinEngineer, former US Air Force pilot and astronaut
Date of Birth: 20.01.1930
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Buzz Aldrin
Buzz Aldrin, born Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr. on January 20, 1930, is an engineer, former United States Air Force pilot, and astronaut. He was a member of the first expedition to the Moon and was the second person to set foot on our planet's satellite, right after his immediate superior, Neil Armstrong.
Early Life and Education
Aldrin was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. He has a mixture of Scottish, Swedish, and German heritage. After graduating high school in Montclair, Aldrin declined an invitation from the highly prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology and instead attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. He acquired the nickname "Buzz" in his childhood, as his younger sister could not pronounce the word "brother" and shortened it to "buzzer." In 1988, Aldrin officially changed his name to "Buzz."
Astronaut Career
In October 1963, Aldrin became a part of the third group of astronauts. After the death of the primary Gemini 9 crew members, Elliot See and Charles Bassett, he was promoted to backup member of the prime crew. Their revised mission aimed to rendezvous and dock with a target vehicle, which they successfully accomplished after Aldrin improvised and developed algorithms on the spot. He was then designated as the pilot of Gemini 12, the final project in the Gemini series. During the flight, Aldrin demonstrated exceptional extravehicular activity skills and proved that astronauts could effectively work in open space.
First Moon Landing
According to numerous legends, Aldrin always wanted to be the first to set foot on the Moon. Many claim that he was initially promised the first step, but due to the positioning scheme of the astronauts in the module, they had to settle for Neil Armstrong, who was closer to the exit according to the schedule. Another version of the story suggests that Armstrong was given this privilege because of his incredible modesty. Nevertheless, Aldrin received his share of fame. Officially, Armstrong's words, "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind," were the first to be heard on the surface. However, just before this, Aldrin said, "Contact light ... Okay, engine stop."
Personal Life
Aldrin is a Presbyterian and a Freemason. After landing on the Moon, he relayed a message to Earth, stating, "I'd like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way." Aldrin has been married three times and currently resides in his third marriage. He has released memoirs about his struggles with alcoholism and depression, titled "Magnificent Desolation."
