Buzz Aldrin(1930 — ?)
Buzz Aldrin
États-Unis
8 min read
An American astronaut, he was the second man to walk on the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission on July 20, 1969. A former combat pilot in Korea and holder of a doctorate in orbital mechanics, he contributed to the development of space rendezvous techniques.
Frequently asked questions
Famous Quotes
« Magnificent desolation. »
« Exploration is not a choice, really; it's an imperative. »
Key Facts
- Born on January 20, 1930, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey
- Fighter pilot during the Korean War (1950–1953), he flew 66 combat missions
- Earned a doctorate in orbital mechanics from MIT in 1963
- On July 20, 1969, he set foot on the Moon during Apollo 11, 19 minutes after Neil Armstrong
- Developed the space rendezvous techniques used during the Gemini and Apollo missions
Works & Achievements
A foundational theoretical work completed at MIT describing the orbital rendezvous techniques used in all subsequent crewed missions. Aldrin formalized the maneuvers that have since become standard in astronautics.
The final mission of the Gemini program, during which Aldrin successfully completed three productive spacewalks totaling 5 hours 30 minutes, demonstrating the EVA mastery essential to the Apollo program.
Alongside Neil Armstrong, Aldrin was part of the first pair to walk on the Moon. The mission stands as one of the most significant technological and scientific achievements of the 20th century.
A candid and deeply personal account in which Aldrin describes his struggle with depression and alcoholism following Apollo 11. It was the first public testimony by an astronaut about psychological hardship.
An autobiographical sequel chronicling the decades after Apollo 11 and his advocacy for Mars exploration. A bestseller that reignited public debate about the future of American space exploration.
A forward-looking work in which Aldrin makes the case for permanent colonization of Mars through a cycling transit program based on an orbital trajectory he named the "Aldrin Cycler."
Anecdotes
During the moon landing on July 20, 1969, Buzz Aldrin became the first human being to perform a religious ritual on the Moon. A few minutes after the Eagle touched down, and before stepping outside, he quietly produced a miniature communion kit provided by his Presbyterian church in Webster, Texas, and took communion in silence. NASA had asked him not to broadcast the act live, following a controversy sparked by the biblical reading during Apollo 8.
Buzz Aldrin held a doctorate in orbital mechanics from MIT, with a thesis titled “Line-of-sight guidance techniques for manned orbital rendezvous” (1963). He was one of the first astronauts to hold a scientific doctorate, earning him the nickname “Dr. Rendezvous” among his colleagues. His theoretical work allowed him to design the maneuvers used during the Gemini and Apollo missions.
During the Gemini 12 mission in November 1966, Aldrin demonstrated that extravehicular activities could be productive and fully controlled. His predecessors had exhausted themselves during EVAs, but Aldrin had prepared with underwater training exercises and specially designed handholds. He spent 5 hours and 30 minutes in space performing complex tasks, proving the feasibility of future lunar missions.
The nickname “Buzz” traces back to Aldrin’s childhood: his younger sister, who couldn’t pronounce “brother,” called him “Buzzer.” The name stuck for life. In 1988, Buzz Aldrin made it official by legally changing his first name from Edwin Eugene to Buzz. Curiously, his mother’s maiden name before marriage was Marion Moon.
After returning from Apollo 11, Aldrin, Armstrong, and Collins were placed in quarantine for 21 days — first aboard a Navy vessel, then in an isolated trailer in Houston. Scientists feared extraterrestrial biological contamination. The three astronauts later said they felt like “fish in a bowl” under the gaze of the entire world, having just accomplished one of humanity’s greatest feats.
Primary Sources
The lunar surface was described as 'magnificent desolation.' The fine-grained surface material was cohesive; footprints were retained with sharp edges. Visibility was excellent in all directions.
The problem of rendezvous in space requires precise knowledge of orbital mechanics and the ability to execute maneuvers with accuracy. The guidance techniques developed herein provide a systematic approach to orbital rendezvous applicable to manned spaceflight.
Walking on the moon was not an exotic experience. The sky was black, the sun was blazing, and there was no wind. The silence was absolute. I felt no great sense of space or distance. The horizon seemed close — too close.
I had been the second human being to walk on the moon, yet I returned home to find myself virtually anonymous, unable to navigate the celebrity I had earned, battling depression and alcoholism.
Astronaut Aldrin's extravehicular activity was an unqualified success. The use of underwater neutral buoyancy training, combined with special handholds and work constraints, proved essential to productive EVA operations.
Key Places
Buzz Aldrin's hometown, where he was born on January 20, 1930. His father, an Air Force colonel, profoundly influenced his calling toward aviation.
Aldrin completed his higher military education there and graduated in 1951 with honors, finishing third in his class in mechanical engineering.
Aldrin prepared and defended his doctoral dissertation there in 1963 on guidance techniques for manned orbital rendezvous — work that became fundamental to the Apollo program.
Launch site of Apollo 11 on July 16, 1969. Aldrin, Armstrong, and Collins lifted off aboard the Saturn V rocket from Launch Complex 39A.
NASA's operational headquarters where Aldrin was based as an astronaut. He underwent years of intensive training there for the Gemini and Apollo missions.
Apollo 11 landing site, on July 20, 1969. Aldrin was the second human being to walk on its dusty surface, describing the landscape as “magnificent desolation.”
