Buzz Aldrin, born Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr. on January 20, 1930, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, is an iconic figure known for being the second person to walk on the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. Here are some key points about his life and contributions:
Buzz Aldrin's interest in space exploration was sparked early on. He graduated from West Point in 1951 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He then joined the United States Air Force where he flew F-86 Sabre jets during the Korean War.
After his military service, Aldrin pursued further education, earning a Doctor of Science degree in Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1963, with his thesis titled "Guidance for Manned Orbital Rendezvous."
Selected by NASA in 1963 as part of the third group of astronauts, Aldrin became known for his work on Gemini and Apollo missions:
After retiring from NASA in 1971, Aldrin continued to contribute to space exploration:
Buzz Aldrin has received numerous awards and honors: