Buzz Aldrin - wikipedia Buzz Aldrin Buzz Aldrin Aldrin in July 1969 NASA Astronaut Nationality American Status Retired Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr. ( 1930 - 01 - 20 ) January 20, 1930 ( age 87 ) Glen Ridge, New Jersey, U.S. Other names Dr. Rendezvous Other occupation Fighter pilot Alma mater United States Military Academy, B.S. 1951 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sc. D. 1963 Rank Colonel, USAF Time in space 12 days 1 hour and 52 minutes Selection 1963 NASA Group 3 Total EVAs Total EVA time 7 hours 52 minutes Missions Gemini 12, Apollo 11 Mission insignia Retirement July 1, 1971 Awards Website www.buzzaldrin.com Spouse ( s ) Joan Ann Archer ( m. 1954 ; div. 1974 ) Beverly Van Zile ( m. 1975 ; div. 1978 ) Lois Driggs Cannon ( m. 1988 ; div. 2012 ) Children Buzz Aldrin ( born Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr. ; January 20, 1930 ) is an American engineer and former astronaut. As the Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 11, he was one of the first two humans to land on the Moon, and the second person to walk on it. He set foot on the Moon at 03 : 15 : 16 on July 21, 1969 ( UTC ), following mission commander Neil Armstrong. He is a former U.S. Air Force officer with the Command Pilot rating. He also went into orbit on the Gemini 12 mission, finally achieving the goals for EVA ( space - walk work ) that paved the way to the Moon and success for the Gemini program ; he spent over five hours on EVA on that mission. Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Early life 1.2 Military career 1.3 NASA career 1.3. 1 Gemini program 1.3. 2 Apollo program 1.4 Retirement 1.5 Aldrin cycler 1.6 Bart Sibrel incident 2 Views 2.1 Criticism of NASA 's 2003 return - to - Moon objectives 2.2 Support of a manned mission to Mars 2.3 Climate change 3 Books 4 Awards and honors 5 Detached adapter panel sighting 6 Personal life 7 Film and television 7.1 Filmography 7.2 Portrayed by others 8 Bibliography 9 See also 10 Notes and references 11 External links Biography Early Life Aldrin was born January 20, 1930, in Mountainside Hospital, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. His parents were Edwin Eugene Aldrin Sr. ( 1896 -- 1974 ), a career military man, and Marion Aldrin ( née Moon, 1903 -- 1968 ), who lived in neighboring Montclair. He is of Scottish, Swedish, and German ancestry. Aldrin was a Boy Scout and earned the rank of Tenderfoot Scout. After graduating from Montclair High School in 1947, Aldrin turned down a full scholarship offer from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( which he would later attend for graduate school ), and went to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. The nickname `` Buzz '' originated in childhood : the younger of his two elder sisters mispronounced `` brother '' as `` buzzer '', and this was shortened to Buzz. Aldrin made it his legal first name in 1988. Military career Aldrin graduated third in his class at West Point in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force and served as a jet fighter pilot during the Korean War. He flew 66 combat missions in F - 86 Sabres and shot down two Mikoyan - Gurevich MiG - 15 aircraft. The June 8, 1953, issue of Life magazine featured gun camera photos taken by Aldrin of one of the Soviet pilots ejecting from his damaged aircraft. After the war, Aldrin was assigned as an aerial gunnery instructor at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, and next was an aide to the dean of faculty at the United States Air Force Academy, which had recently begun operations in 1955. That same year, he graduated from the Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. He flew F - 100 Super Sabres as a flight commander at Bitburg Air Base, West Germany, in the 22d Fighter Squadron. In January 1963, Aldrin earned a Sc. D. degree in astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he had been assigned as a graduate student ( under the auspices of the Air Force Institute of Technology ) since 1959. His doctoral thesis was Line - of - Sight Guidance Techniques for Manned Orbital Rendezvous, the dedication of which read, `` In the hopes that this work may in some way contribute to their exploration of space, this is dedicated to the crew members of this country 's present and future manned space programs. If only I could join them in their exciting endeavors ! '' On completion of his doctorate, he was assigned to the Gemini Target Office of the Air Force Space Systems Division in Los Angeles before his selection as an astronaut. His initial application to join the astronaut corps was rejected on the basis of never having been a test pilot ; that prerequisite was lifted when he re-applied and was accepted into the third astronaut class. NASA career Gemini program Main article : Gemini 12 Aldrin was selected as a member of the third group of NASA astronauts in October 1963. Because test pilot experience was no longer a requirement, this was the first selection for which he was eligible. After the deaths of the original Gemini 9 prime crew, Elliot See and Charles Bassett, Aldrin and Jim Lovell were promoted to backup crew for the mission. The main objective of the revised mission ( Gemini 9A ) was to rendezvous and dock with a target vehicle, but when this failed, Aldrin improvised an effective exercise for the craft to rendezvous with a co-ordinate in space. He was confirmed as pilot on Gemini 12, the last Gemini mission and the last chance to prove methods for extravehicular activity ( EVA ). He set a record for EVA, demonstrating that astronauts could work outside spacecraft. Aldrin during Gemini 12 with the Earth reflecting off his visor Aldrin and Jim Lovell after the Gemini 12 mission Another view of Aldrin in space, with the spacecraft and Earth Apollo program Main article : Apollo 11 Aldrin walks on the surface of the Moon during Apollo 11 Magnificent desolation. Aldrin 's first impression of the Moon, standing on its surface. Aldrin 's lunar footprint in a photo taken by him on July 21, 1969 Play media Video from the Apollo 11 mission Aldrin was chosen for the crew of Apollo 11 and made the first lunar landing with commander Neil Armstrong on July 20, 1969. The next day, Aldrin became the second person to walk on the Moon, keeping his record total EVA time until that was surpassed on Apollo 14. Aldrin 's first words on the Moon were `` Beautiful view. '' Then, in response to Armstrong asking, `` Is n't it magnificent ? '', he responded, `` Magnificent desolation. '' He was also the first person to urinate while on the Moon. There has been speculation about the extent of Aldrin 's desire at the time to be the first astronaut to walk on the Moon and its impact on his pre-flight, in - mission and post-flight actions. According to different NASA accounts, the Lunar Module Pilot ( i.e. Aldrin on Apollo 11 ) had originally been proposed as the first to step onto the Moon 's surface in early versions of the EVA checklist, and when Aldrin became aware that this might be amended, he lobbied within NASA for the original procedure to be followed. A number of factors seem to have contributed to the final decision, including the physical positioning of the astronauts inside the compact lunar lander, which made it easier for Armstrong to be the first to exit the spacecraft. Also, Armstrong was the Mission Commander, and other senior astronauts who would command later Apollo missions ( and who might have ended up making the first landing in the event of failure on Apollo 11 ) were not sympathetic to Aldrin 's views. Apollo 11 Command Module Pilot Michael Collins has commented that he thought Aldrin `` resents not being first on the moon more than he appreciates being second. '' Aldrin, a Presbyterian, was the first person to hold a religious ceremony on the Moon. After landing on the Moon, he radioed Earth : `` 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. '' He took communion on the surface of the Moon, but he kept it secret because of a lawsuit brought by atheist activist Madalyn Murray O'Hair over the reading of Genesis on Apollo 8. Aldrin, then a church elder, used a home communion kit given to him, and recited words used by his pastor at Webster Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Dean Woodruff. The communion elements were the first food and liquid consumed on the Moon : in Guideposts, Aldrin stated : `` It was interesting to think that the very first liquid ever poured on the Moon, and the first food eaten there, were communion elements. '' Later Aldrin commented on the event : `` Perhaps, if I had it to do over again, I would not choose to celebrate communion. Although it was a deeply meaningful experience for me, it was a Christian sacrament, and we had come to the Moon in the name of all mankind -- be they Christians, Jews, Muslims, animists, agnostics, or atheists. But at the time I could think of no better way to acknowledge the enormity of the Apollo 11 experience than by giving thanks to God. '' Mindful of the controversy caused by the Bible readings made by the Apollo 8 crew, the NASA management had warned the Apollo 11 crew against making any explicit religious comments during the flight. However, in the final Apollo 11 TV broadcast during the return journey to Earth, Aldrin quoted from Psalm 8 ( verses 3 and 4 ) `` I 've been reflecting the events of the past several days and a verse from the Psalms comes to mind to me. ' When I consider the heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained, what is man that thou art mindful of him ? ' ''. This particular quote seems to have been accepted as a personal observation and did not precipitate any controversy. Retirement Aldrin as Commandant of the Air Force Test Pilot School After leaving NASA in July 1971, Aldrin was assigned as the Commandant of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California. In March 1972, Aldrin retired from active duty after 21 years of service, and returned to the Air Force in a managerial role, but his career was blighted by personal problems. His autobiographies Return to Earth, published in 1973, and Magnificent Desolation, published in June 2009, both provide accounts of his struggles with clinical depression and alcoholism in the years following his NASA career. Aldrin 's life improved considerably when he recognized and sought treatment for his problems. Since retiring from NASA, he has continued to promote space exploration. In 1985 he joined the University of North Dakota 's College of Aerospace Sciences ( now the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences ) at the invitation of John D. Odegard, the dean of the college at time. Aldrin helped to develop UND 's Space Studies program and brought Dr. David Webb from NASA to serve as the department 's first chair. Later, he produced a computer strategy game called Buzz Aldrin 's Race Into Space ( 1993 ). To further promote space exploration, and to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the first lunar landing, Aldrin teamed up with Snoop Dogg, Quincy Jones, Talib Kweli, and Soulja Boy to create the rap single and video, `` Rocket Experience '', with proceeds from video and song sales to benefit Aldrin 's non-profit foundation, ShareSpace. He referred to the Phobos monolith in a July 22, 2009, interview with C - SPAN : `` We should go boldly where man has not gone before. Fly by the comets, visit asteroids, visit the moon of Mars. There 's a monolith there. A very unusual structure on this potato shaped object that goes around Mars once in seven hours. When people find out about that they 're going to say ' Who put that there ? Who put that there ? ' The universe put it there. If you choose, God put it there... '' Aldrin has voiced parody versions of himself in two of Matt Groening 's animated series : The Simpsons episode `` Deep Space Homer '', in which he accompanies Homer Simpson on a trip into space as part of NASA 's plan to improve its public appearance, and the Futurama episode `` Cold Warriors ''. In 2011, Aldrin appeared as himself in the film Transformers : Dark of the Moon, where he explains to Optimus Prime and the Autobots that the Apollo 11 mission also discovered a Cybertronian ship on the Moon whose existence was concealed from the public. In 2012, he made a cameo appearance in Japanese drama film Space Brothers. Aldrin appeared as himself in the Big Bang Theory episode, `` The Holographic Excitation '', which aired on October 25, 2012. Aldrin also lent his voice talents to the 2012 video game Mass Effect 3, playing a stargazer who appears in the game 's final scene. In December 2016, Aldrin was visiting the Amundsen -- Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica, as part of a tourist group, when he fell ill and was evacuated, first to McMurdo Station and from there to Christchurch, New Zealand, where he was reported to be in stable condition. Aldrin 's visit at age 86 makes him the oldest person to ever reach the South Pole. Aldrin cycler In 1985, Aldrin proposed the existence of a special spacecraft trajectory now known as the Aldrin cycler. Aldrin 's system of cycling spacecraft makes travel to Mars possible using far less propellant than conventional means, with an expected five and a half month journey from the Earth to Mars, and a return trip to Earth of about the same duration on a twin - cycler. Aldrin is still working on this with engineers from Purdue University. Bart Sibrel incident On September 9, 2002, Aldrin was lured to a Beverly Hills hotel on the pretext of being interviewed for a Japanese children 's television show on the subject of space. When he arrived, Apollo conspiracy proponent Bart Sibrel accosted him with a film crew and demanded he swear on a Bible that the Moon landings were not faked, insisting that Aldrin and others had lied about walking on the Moon. After a brief confrontation, in which Sibrel called him `` a coward and a liar '', Aldrin punched Sibrel in the jaw, which was caught on camera by Sibrel 's film crew. The police determined that Aldrin was provoked and no charges were filed. Aldrin dedicates a chapter to this incident in his autobiography Magnificent Desolation. Views Aldrin in Mission Control with NASA spokesman Josh Byerly and Flight Director Ron Spencer in 2009 Criticism of NASA 's 2003 Return - to - Moon objectives In December 2003, Aldrin published an opinion piece in The New York Times criticizing NASA 's objectives. In it, he voiced concern about NASA 's development of a spacecraft `` limited to transporting four astronauts at a time with little or no cargo carrying capability '' and declared the goal of sending astronauts back to the Moon was `` more like reaching for past glory than striving for new triumphs ''. Support of a manned mission to Mars In June 2013, Aldrin wrote an opinion, published in The New York Times, supporting a manned mission to Mars and which viewed the Moon `` not as a destination but more a point of departure, one that places humankind on a trajectory to homestead Mars and become a two - planet species. '' In August 2015, Aldrin, in association with the Florida Institute of Technology, presented a `` master plan '', for NASA consideration, for astronauts, with a `` tour of duty of ten years '', to colonize Mars before the year 2040. Climate change In 2009, Aldrin commented on climate change by saying : `` I think the climate has been changing for billions of years. If it 's warming now, it may cool off later. I 'm not in favor of just taking short - term isolated situations and depleting our resources to keep our climate just the way it is today. I 'm not necessarily of the school that we are causing it all, I think the world is causing it. '' Books Buzz Aldrin speaking at an event in Phoenix, Arizona to promote his book, No Dream is Too High, in April 2016. Books co-authored by Aldrin include Return to Earth ( 1973 ), Men From Earth ( 1989 ), Reaching for the Moon ( 2005 ), Look to the Stars ( 2009 ) and Magnificent Desolation ( 2009 ). He has also co-authored with John Barnes the science fiction novels Encounter with Tiber ( 1996 ) and The Return ( 2000 ). His book Mission to Mars was published in May 2013. In April 2016, he released his latest book, No Dream is Too High. Awards and honors Air Force Master Astronaut badge Air Force Distinguished Service Medal with cluster Legion of Merit Distinguished Flying Cross with cluster Air Medal with two clusters Air Force Commendation Medal Outstanding Unit Award Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction NASA Distinguished Service Medal NASA Exceptional Service Medal National Defense Service Medal with one star Korean Service Medal with two stars Air Force Longevity Service Award with four clusters Presidential Unit Citation ( Korea ) United Nations Korea Medal Korean War Service Medal Civilian awards and decorations include the Robert J. Collier Trophy, the Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy, and the Harmon Trophy. Aldrin and his Apollo 11 crewmates were the 1999 recipients of the Langley Gold Medal from the Smithsonian Institution. The crater Aldrin on the Moon near the Apollo 11 landing site and Asteroid 6470 Aldrin are named in his honor. In 1967, Aldrin received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from Gustavus Adolphus College. In 1985, Aldrin was inducted into the Scandinavian - American Hall of Fame, a signature event of Norsk Høstfest. In 1994, Aldrin was anonymously honored on a United States postage stamp. The 29 ¢ stamp, commemorating the silver anniversary of the landing, was based on a famous photograph of Aldrin, captured by Neil Armstrong, in which Aldrin 's face is obscured by his reflective visor. Postal rules at the time prohibited directly featuring living persons on stamps. In 2001, President Bush appointed Aldrin to the Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry. Aldrin received the 2003 Humanitarian Award from Variety, the Children 's Charity, which, according to the organization, `` is given to an individual who has shown unusual understanding, empathy, and devotion to mankind. '' Aldrin is on the National Space Society 's Board of Governors, and has served as the organization 's Chairman ; an inductee of the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, National Aviation Hall of Fame and the International Space Hall of Fame ; and a member of The Planetary Society, with Aldrin 's pre-recorded voice appearing on nearly every episode of the Society 's Planetary Radio. In 2006, the Space Foundation awarded Aldrin its highest honor, the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award. For contributions to the television industry, Aldrin was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2008. In 2009, President Obama signed legislation conferring the Congressional Gold Medal upon Aldrin and his Apollo 11 crewmates, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins. In a 2010 Space Foundation survey, Aldrin was ranked as the No. 9 ( tied with astronauts Gus Grissom and Alan Shepard ) most popular space hero. In 2011, Aldrin was nominated for Best Cameo at the 2011 Scream Awards for his role playing himself in Transformers : Dark of the Moon. In 2015, Aldrin was named as the Chancellor of the International Space University. In 2016, Aldrin 's hometown middle school in Montclair, New Jersey was renamed the Buzz Aldrin Middle School. Detached adapter panel sighting Buzz Aldrin speaking at an event in April 2016. In 2005, while being interviewed for a documentary titled First on the Moon : The Untold Story, Aldrin told an interviewer that they saw an unidentified flying object. Aldrin told David Morrison, a NASA Astrobiology Institute senior scientist, that the documentary cut the crew 's conclusion that they were probably seeing one of four detached spacecraft adapter panels. Their S - IVB upper stage was 6,000 miles ( 9,700 km ) away, but the four panels were jettisoned before the S - IVB made its separation maneuver so they would closely follow the Apollo 11 spacecraft until its first midcourse correction. When Aldrin appeared on The Howard Stern Show on August 15, 2007, Stern asked him about the supposed UFO sighting. Aldrin confirmed that there was no such sighting of anything deemed extraterrestrial, and said they were and are `` 99.9 percent '' sure that the object was the detached panel. Interviewed by the Science Channel, Aldrin mentioned seeing unidentified objects, and according to Aldrin his words were taken out of context ; he asked the Science Channel to clarify to viewers he did not see alien spacecraft, but they refused. Personal Life Aldrin has been married three times. His first marriage was to Joan Archer ( 1954 -- 1974 ), the mother of his three children ( James, Janice and Andrew ). His second marriage was to Beverly Zile ( 1975 -- 1978 ). His third marriage was to Lois Driggs Cannon ( 1988 -- 2011 ), from whom he filed for divorce on June 15, 2011, in Los Angeles, citing `` irreconcilable differences ''. The divorce was finalized on December 28, 2012. He has one grandson, Jeffrey Schuss, born to his daughter, Janice. His mother committed suicide in 1968, the year before the Moon mission. One of his grandfathers also committed suicide. His battles against depression and alcoholism, upon returning home from the Apollo 11 mission, have been documented, most recently in Magnificent Desolation. Aldrin is an active supporter of the Republican Party, headlining fundraisers for GOP members of Congress. In 2007, Aldrin confirmed to Time magazine that he had recently had a face - lift ; he joked that the G - forces he was exposed to in space `` caused a sagging jowl that needed some attention. '' Aldrin commented on the death of his Apollo 11 colleague, Neil Armstrong, saying that he was `` deeply saddened by the passing. I know I am joined by millions of others in mourning the passing of a true American hero and the best pilot I ever knew. I had truly hoped that on July 20th, 2019, Neil, Mike and I would be standing together to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of our moon landing... Regrettably, this is not to be. '' Fellow Apollo astronaut Edgar Mitchell died on the eve of the 45th anniversary of Mitchell 's lunar landing. His death was widely reported, and fellow Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin tweeted the following morning, `` It 's the 45th Anniv of the # Apollo14 landing on the moon & yesterday we lost another Lunar Pioneer Edgar Mitchell. '' Aldrin primarily resided in Los Angeles, California and nearby environs, including Hidden Hills and Laguna Beach, from 1972 to 2014. Following his third divorce, he sold his Westwood condominium ( initially purchased in 1998 ) for $2.87 million in 2014. As of 2016, Aldrin lived in Satellite Beach, Florida. Film and television Filmography Film and television roles Year Title Role Notes 1976 The Boy in the Plastic Bubble Himself TV movie 1989 After Dark Himself Extended appearance on British discussion program, with among others Heinz Wolff, Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Whitley Strieber The Simpsons Himself ( voice ) Episode : `` Deep Space Homer '' Space Ghost Coast to Coast Himself 2 episodes 1999 Disney 's Recess Himself ( voice ) Episode : `` Space Cadet '' 2003 Da Ali G Show Himself 2 episodes 2006 Numb3rs Himself Episode : `` Killer Chat '' 2007 In the Shadow of the Moon Himself Documentary 2008 Fly Me to the Moon Himself 30 Rock Himself Episode : `` The Moms '' Dancing with the Stars Himself / contestant 2nd eliminated in season 10 2011 Transformers : Dark of the Moon Himself 2011 Futurama Himself ( voice ) Episode : `` Cold Warriors '' 2012 Space Brothers Himself 2012 The Big Bang Theory Himself Episode : `` The Holographic Excitation '' 2012 Mass Effect 3 The Stargazer ( voice ) Video game 2015 Jorden runt på 6 steg Himself Successfully tested six degrees of separation 2016 The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Himself Was interviewed and took part in a skit 2016 Hell 's Kitchen Himself Dining room guest and had his dinner cooked by the blue team due to their team challenge win Portrayed by others Aldrin has been portrayed by : Cliff Robertson in Return to Earth ( 1976 ) Larry Williams in Apollo 13 ( 1995 ) Xander Berkeley in Apollo 11 ( 1996 ) Bryan Cranston in From the Earth to the Moon ( 1998 ) and Magnificent Desolation : Walking on the Moon 3D ( 2005 ) James Marsters in Moonshot ( 2009 ) Cory Tucker as a younger Buzz Aldrin of 1969 in Transformers : Dark of the Moon ( 2011 ), and Buzz Aldrin played himself Lawrence Sonntag in Camp Camp Season 2, Episode 12 - Parents ' Day ( 2017 ) Corey Stoll in First Man ( 2018 ) The name of the Toy Story character Buzz Lightyear was inspired by Buzz Aldrin. Aldrin acknowledged the tribute when he pulled a Buzz Lightyear doll out during a speech at NASA, to rapturous cheer, a clip of which can be found on the Toy Story 10th Anniversary DVD. Bibliography Aldrin, Col. Edwin E. Jr. 1970. Footsteps on the Moon. Edison Electric Institute Bulletin. Vol. 38, No. 7, pp. 266 -- 272. Aldrin, Buzz and Wayne Warga. 1973. Return to Earth. New York, Random House. Aldrin, Buzz and Malcolm McConnell. 1989. Men from Earth. New York : Bantam Books. Aldrin, Buzz and John Barnes. 1996. Encounter with Tiber. London : Hodder & Stoughton, 1996. Aldrin, Buzz and John Barnes. 2000. The Return. New York : Forge. Aldrin, Buzz and Wendell Minor. 2005. Reaching for the Moon. New York : Harper Collins Publishers. Aldrin, Buzz and Ken Abraham. 2009. Magnificent Desolation : The Long Journey Home from the Moon. New York : Harmony Books. Aldrin, Buzz and Wendell Minor. 2009. Look to the Stars. Camberwell, Vic. : Puffin Books. Armstrong, Neil ; Michael Collins ; Edwin E. Aldrin ; Gene Farmer ; and Dora Jane Hamblin. 1970. First on the Moon : A Voyage with Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. Boston : Little, Brown. Aldrin, Buzz. 2013. Mission to Mars. Washington, D.C. : The National Geographic Society. Aldrin, Buzz and Marianne Dyson. 2015. Welcome to Mars : Making a Home on the Red Planet. Washington, D.C. : National Geographic Children 's Books. See also Space rendezvous List of spaceflight records Notes and references Jump up ^ Bostick, Jerry C. ( 23 February 2000 ). `` Jerry C. Bostick Oral History ''. NASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project ( Interview ). Interview with Carol Butler. Retrieved 10 December 2016. Jump up ^ Roger Ressmeyer ( 15 July 1999 ). `` Buzz Aldrin plans the next giant leap ''. NBC News. Retrieved 10 December 2016. ^ Jump up to : `` To the Moon and beyond '' Archived 2011 - 05 - 16 at the Wayback Machine., The Record ( Bergen County ), July 20, 2009 ; retrieved July 20, 2009. The source is indicative of the confusion regarding his birthplace. He is described in the article 's first paragraph as having been `` born and raised in Montclair, New Jersey '', while a more detailed second paragraph on `` The Early Years '' states that he was `` born Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr. on January 20, 1930, in the Glen Ridge wing of Montclair Hospital ''. Jump up ^ Hansen, James R. ( 2005 ). First Man : The Life of Neil A. Armstrong. Simon & Schuster. p. 348. ISBN 0743257510. `` His birth certificate lists Glen Ridge as his birthplace. '' Jump up ^ `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2008 - 04 - 02. Retrieved 2008 - 05 - 09. CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown ( link ) ; retrieved November 8, 2012. Jump up ^ Solomon, Deborah ; Oth, Christian ( June 21, 2009 ). `` Questions for Buzz Aldrin : The Man on the Moon ''. The New York Times. Retrieved March 15, 2015. Jump up ^ Powell, Sarah. `` From The Dollar To The Moon. 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QGITS ''. QGITS. 2013 - 05 - 12. Retrieved 2016 - 12 - 01. Jump up ^ MSFC, Heather Deiss : ( 2015 - 05 - 12 ). `` What Is a Spacewalk ? ''. NASA. Retrieved 2016 - 12 - 01. Jump up ^ `` International Space Hall of Fame : New Mexico Museum of Space History : Inductee Profile ''. nmspacemuseum.org. Jump up ^ Teague, Kipp, ed. ( July 21, 1969 ). Apollo 11 -- Buzz Aldrin Descends Ladder to Lunar Surface ( MPEG - 1 ). National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Retrieved December 22, 2013. Lay summary -- Apollo 11 Video Library ( September 6, 2011 ). Beautiful view. Magnificent desolation. Jump up ^ Diaz, Jesus ( July 20, 2011 ). `` Buzz Aldrin Was the First Man to Pee on the Moon -- 42 Years Ago Today ''. Gizmodo. Retrieved September 23, 2015. Jump up ^ Minard, Anne ( July 16, 2009 ). `` Buzz Aldrin, First Man ( to Pee ) on the Moon, Sounds Off ''. National Geographic News. Retrieved September 23, 2015. Jump up ^ Graham, Jane ( September 3, 2013 ). `` Letter to my younger self -- Buzz Aldrin ''. Big Issue. Retrieved April 8, 2016. Jump up ^ Cortright, Edgar M. ( ed. ), `` 8 '', Apollo Expeditions to the Moon, NASA, p. 7 Jump up ^ Chaikin, A. ( 2007 ). A Man on the Moon. Penguin Books. ISBN 014311235X Jump up ^ Collins, Michael ( 2001 ). Carrying the Fire ; an Astronaut 's Journeys. Cooper Square Press. ISBN 081541028X Jump up ^ Chaikin, Andrew, A Man on the Moon, p. 204 Jump up ^ Armstrong, Neil ; Collins, Michael ; Aldrin, Buzz ; Farmer, Gene ; Hamblin, Dora Jane ( 1970 ), First on the Moon -- A Voyage with Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., London, UK : Michael Joseph, p. 251, ISBN 0 - 31605160 - 8 Jump up ^ Hillner, Jennifer ( January 24, 2007 ). `` Sundance 2007 : Buzz Aldrin Speaks ''. Table of Malcontents -- Wired Blogs. Retrieved May 7, 2007. ^ Jump up to : Cresswell, Matthew ( September 13, 2012 ). `` How Buzz Aldrin 's communion on the moon was hushed up ''. The Guardian. Jump up ^ Aldrin, Buzz & Ken Abraham ( 2009 ). Magnificent Desolation : The Long Journey Home from the Moon. Random House LLC. p. 27 ; ISBN 9780307463470 Jump up ^ Ryan, P. ( 1969 ) The Invasion of the Moon 1969 : The Story of Apollo 11. Penguin Books. Middlesex, England. Jump up ^ `` 4th Day Alliance -- Creationism, Creation Science, and Creation Astronomy -- Apollo Space Program Bible Quotations ''. 4thdayalliance.com. Jump up ^ `` Aldrin note up for auction ''. usatoday.com. Jump up ^ Aldrin, Buzz ( 2009 ). Magnificent Desolation : The Long Journey Home from the Moon. Harmony. Jump up ^ Rice, Daniel R ( 1992 ). The Clifford Years : The University of North Dakota, 1971 - 1992. p. 46. Jump up ^ `` Buzz Aldrin and Snoop Dogg reach for the stars with Rocket Experience '', The Times, June 25, 2009. Jump up ^ `` Buzz Aldrin Reveals Existence of Monolith on Mars Moon ''. C - SPAN. July 22, 2009. Jump up ^ `` 小栗 旬 & 岡田 将 生 主演 『 宇宙 兄弟 』 に 野口 聡一 、 バズ ・ オルドリン が 出演 '' ( Shunichi Noguchi and Buzz Aldrin appear in ' Space Brothers ', starring Oguri Shun & Masao Okada ). ぴあ 映画 生活 ( Pia Movie Life ) ( in Japanese ). March 22, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2016. Jump up ^ Goldberg, Lesley ( October 9, 2012 ). `` Buzz Aldrin Lands ' Big Bang Theory ' Cameo ''. Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 2, 2016. Jump up ^ Egan, James. 3000 Facts about Video Games. Lulu.com. p. 159. ISBN 9781326818869. Jump up ^ McCann, Erin ( December 1, 2016 ). `` Buzz Aldrin Is Evacuated From the South Pole After Falling Ill ''. The New York Times. Retrieved December 1, 2016. Jump up ^ Wang, Amy B ( December 6, 2016 ). `` Buzz Aldrin being treated by a doctor named David Bowie ( yes ) after South Pole evacuation ''. The Washington Post. Retrieved December 6, 2016. Jump up ^ Aldrin, E.E., `` Cyclic Trajectory Concepts, '' SAIC presentation to the Interplanetary Rapid Transit Study Meeting, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, October 1985. Jump up ^ Byrnes, D.V. ; Longuski, J.M. ; and Aldrin, B. ( 1993 ). `` Cycler Orbit Between Earth and Mars '' ( PDF ). Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets. 30 ( 3 ) : 334 -- 36. Bibcode : 1993JSpRo... 30... 334B. doi : 10.2514 / 3.25519. Retrieved October 25, 2015. Jump up ^ `` Aldrin Mars Cycler ''. buzzaldrin.com. Jump up ^ `` ABC U.S. News Videos & Video Clips Online ''. ABC News. Jump up ^ `` Ex-astronaut escapes assault charge ''. BBC News. September 21, 2002. Retrieved July 7, 2012. Jump up ^ Aldrin, Buzz ( 2009 ). `` A Blow Heard ' Round the World ''. Magnificent Desolation. Harmony Books. p. 281. ^ Jump up to : Aldrin, Buzz ( December 5, 2003 ). `` Fly Me To L1 ''. The New York Times. Retrieved November 14, 2009. Jump up ^ Aldrin, Buzz ( June 13, 2013 ). `` The Call of Mars ''. New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2013. Jump up ^ Dunn, Marcia ( August 27, 2015 ). `` Buzz Aldrin joins university, forming ' master plan ' for Mars ''. AP News. Retrieved August 30, 2015. Jump up ^ Aldrin, Buzz ( July 3, 2009 ). `` Buzz Aldrin calls for manned flight to Mars to overcome global problems ''. The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved January 7, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Scandinavian - American Hall of Fame : Buzz Aldrin ''. Hostfest.com. Retrieved March 2, 2014. Jump up ^ `` ' First Moon Landing, 1969 ' United States postage stamp ''. Retrieved March 2, 2014. Jump up ^ Personnel Announcements -- August 22, 2001 White House Press Release naming the Presidential Appointees for the commission. Jump up ^ `` Variety International Humanitarian Awards ''. Variety, the Children 's Charity. Retrieved May 7, 2007. Jump up ^ `` Symposium Awards ''. Archived from the original on 2009 - 02 - 03. Retrieved 2012 - 01 - 31. CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown ( link ) ; nationalspacesymposium.org Jump up ^ Yune, Tommy ( July 20, 2009 ). `` Apollo 11 honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame ''. CNN. Retrieved July 28, 2016. Jump up ^ Frank, Bruce and Buzz among first inducted into NJ hall of fame, The Star - Ledger, October 25, 2007. Retrieved May 3, 2010. Jump up ^ `` Space Foundation Survey Reveals Broad Range of Space Heroes ''. spacefoundation.org. October 27, 2010. Jump up ^ Buzz Aldrin ( @ TheRealBuzz ) ( October 14, 2015 ). `` I am so honored to be the new Chancellor of ISU at the # IAC2015 following in Arthur C Clarke 's footsteps '' ( Tweet ) -- via Twitter. Jump up ^ Kent, Spencer ( September 16, 2016 ). `` N.J. middle school renamed after Apollo 11 's Buzz Aldrin ''. NJ.com. NJ Advance Media. Retrieved March 14, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Apollo 11 Mission Op Report '' ( PDF ). NASA. Jump up ^ Morrison, David ( July 26, 2006 ). `` NASA Ask an Astrobiologist ''. NASA. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Astronaut Buzz Aldrin Recounts Apollo 11 UFO Encounter ''. ufoevidence.org. July 18, 1969. Archived from the original on January 31, 2016. Retrieved October 25, 2015. Jump up ^ Morrison, David ( 2009 ). `` UFOs and Aliens in Space ''. Skeptical Inquirer. 33 ( 1 ) : 30 -- 31. Retrieved October 25, 2015. Jump up ^ Roberts, Roxanne and Argetsinger ( June 16, 2011 ). `` Love, etc. : Buzz Aldrin divorces ; Hugh Hefner gets revenge on ex ''. The Washington Post. Jump up ^ `` Buzz Aldrin -- Officially Divorced ''. Ghanamma. Retrieved January 7, 2013. Jump up ^ `` After walking on moon, astronauts trod various paths ''. CNN. July 17, 2009. Retrieved April 27, 2010. Jump up ^ Read, Kimberly ( January 4, 2005 ). `` Buzz Aldrin ''. Bipolar. About. Retrieved November 2, 2008. Jump up ^ Invite ( PDF ), Combat Veterans For Congress ^ Jump up to : `` 10 Questions for Buzz Aldrin ''. Time.com. September 6, 2007. Retrieved March 2, 2014. Jump up ^ Aldrin, Buzz ( August 25, 2012 ). `` About passing of Neil Armstrong ''. The real Buzz. Twitter. Retrieved August 25, 2012. Jump up ^ Aldrin, Buzz ( August 25, 2012 ). `` On the Passing of Neil Armstrong '' ( Official statement ). Retrieved October 25, 2015. ^ Jump up to : NASA - Apollo Astronaut Edgar Mitchell Dies at Age 85 Jump up ^ Magnificent Desolation : The Long Journey Home from the Moon, Buzz Aldrin, Ken Abraham Jump up ^ Astronaut Buzz Aldrin sells Wilshire Corridor condo, By Lauren Beale, 25 June 2014, LA Times Jump up ^ Staff Reports, Wire and ( December 2, 2016 ). `` ' Ailing ' Buzz Aldrin recuperating ''. Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 1A. Retrieved December 2, 2016. Jump up ^ `` The Boy in the Plastic Bubble : Full Cast and Crew ''. IMDb. Retrieved December 18, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Deep Space Homer : Full Cast and Crew ''. IMDb. Retrieved December 18, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Space Ghost Coast to Coast : Full Cast and Crew ''. IMDb. Retrieved December 18, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Recess : Full Cast and Crew ''. IMDb. Retrieved December 18, 2017. Jump up ^ `` The Moms : Full Cast and Crew ''. IMDb. Retrieved December 18, 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` Transformers : Dark of the Moon, Full Cast and Crew ''. IMDb. Retrieved December 18, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Mass Effect 3 : Full Cast and Crew ''. IMDb. Retrieved December 18, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Return to Earth : Full Cast and Crew ''. IMDb. Retrieved December 18, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Apollo 13, Full Cast and Crew ''. IMDb. Retrieved December 5, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Apollo 11 : Full Cast and Crew ''. IMDb. Retrieved December 18, 2017. Jump up ^ `` From the Earth to the Moon, Full Cast and Crew ''. IMDb. Retrieved December 5, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Moonshot : Full Cast and Crew ''. IMDb. Retrieved December 18, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Camp Camp : Full Cast and Crew ''. IMDb. Retrieved December 18, 2017. Jump up ^ `` First Man : Full Cast and Crew ''. IMDb. Retrieved December 18, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Toy Story 3 Featurette -- Buzz Lightyear ''. Trailer Addict. June 18, 2010. Retrieved 2010 - 08 - 29. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Buzz Aldrin. Wikiquote has quotations related to : Buzz Aldrin Official website Aldrin 's official NASA biography Astronautix biography of Buzz Aldrin Iven C. Kincheloe Awards A February 2009 BBC News item about Buzz Aldrin 's Moon memories, looking forward to the 40th anniversary of the first Moon landing `` Satellite of solitude '' by Buzz Aldrin : an article in which Aldrin describes what it was like to walk on the Moon, Cosmos science magazine Aldrin at Encyclopedia of Science Buzz Aldrin on IMDb Buzz Aldrin at the National Aviation Hall of Fame Video interview with Buzz Aldrin Buzz is shown an enlarged print of Tranquility Base and talks Graeme Hill through the points of significance. Video interview on AstrotalkUK Aldrin at International Space Hall of Fame Buzz Aldrin 's Quotes Buzz Aldrin Paul Mauriat 's History Appearances on C - SPAN NASA - Tapping Resources in Space and the Community ( NASA, Feb. 3, 2017 ) ( Buzz talks to students as part of the Living Off the Land in Space lecture series ) Records Preceded by Neil Armstrong Oldest Moonwalker Oldest Living Moonwalker July 21, 1969 -- February 5, 1971 Succeeded by Alan Shepard Preceded by Alan Shepard Oldest Living Moonwalker July 21, 1998 -- present Incumbent People who have walked on the Moon Neil Armstrong ( CDR, Apollo 11 ) Buzz Aldrin ( LMP, Apollo 11 ) Pete Conrad ( CDR, Apollo 12 ) Alan Bean ( LMP, Apollo 12 ) Alan Shepard ( CDR, Apollo 14 ) Edgar Mitchell ( LMP, Apollo 14 ) David Scott ( CDR, Apollo 15 ) James Irwin ( LMP, Apollo 15 ) John Young ( CDR, Apollo 16 ) Charles Duke ( LMP, Apollo 16 ) Eugene Cernan ( CDR, Apollo 17 ) Harrison Schmitt ( LMP, Apollo 17 ) Moon landing Apollo program Apollo Lunar Module Lunar Roving Vehicle NASA Astronaut Group 3, `` The Fourteen '', 1963 NASA Astronaut Group 2 ← NASA Astronaut Group 3 → NASA Astronaut Group 4 Buzz Aldrin William Anders Charles Bassett Alan Bean Eugene Cernan Roger Chaffee Michael Collins Walter Cunningham Donn Eisele Theodore Freeman Richard Gordon Russell Schweickart David Scott Clifton Williams NASA Astronaut Groups NASA Astronaut Corps 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 List of astronauts by year of selection Aviation Hall of Fame of New Jersey 1970s 1973 Amelia Earhart / Anne Morrow Lindbergh / Clyde Pangborn / Floyd Bennett / Clarence Duncan Chamberlin / Wittemann brothers 1974 Anthony Fokker 1975 Juan Terry Trippe 1976 Bert Blanchard Acosta / Arthur Godfrey 1980s 1980 Edwin Eugene `` Buzz '' Aldrin Jr. / Boland brothers / Charles E. Rosendahl / Gill Robb Wilson 1981 Robert Nietzel Buck 1982 Walter M. `` Wally '' Schirra 1984 Robert J. Collier 1985 Malcolm S. Forbes 1987 Kathryn Dwyer Sullivan / Oliver George Simmons 1988 William Halsey Jr. / Frederick Walker Castle 1989 Charles Joseph Fletcher 1990s 1993 Jean - Pierre Blanchard 1996 Vincent Justus Burnelli / Kenneth A. Walsh 1998 Richard E. Byrd 1999 Terry Jonathan Hart 2000s 2002 Oliver Colin LeBoutillier VIAF : 110368892 LCCN : n88245653 ISNI : 0000 0001 1082 6680 GND : 107714566 SUDOC : 083204687 BNF : cb12585179q ( data ) NDL : 00462130 NKC : skuk0000019 IATH : w6709cm1 PIC : 391791 Biography portal United States Air Force portal Spaceflight portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Buzz_Aldrin&oldid=816092447 '' Categories : Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients Buzz Aldrin 1930 births Living people 1966 in spaceflight 1969 in spaceflight Apollo 11 20th - century American businesspeople American astronauts American autobiographers American aviators American businesspeople American male writers American mechanical engineers American air force personnel of the Korean War American people of German descent American people of Scottish descent American people of Swedish descent American Presbyterians Aviators from New Jersey Collier Trophy recipients Congressional Gold Medal recipients Florida Institute of Technology faculty Harmon Trophy winners Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni National Aviation Hall of Fame inductees New Jersey Republicans Participants in American reality television series People from Montclair, New Jersey People who have walked on the Moon Recipients of the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal Recipients of the Air Medal Recipients of the Cullum Geographical Medal Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross ( United States ) Recipients of the Legion of Merit Recipients of the NASA Distinguished Service Medal Recipients of the NASA Exceptional Service Medal United States Air Force astronauts United States Air Force officers United States Astronaut Hall of Fame inductees United States Military Academy alumni Writers from New Jersey Engineers from New Jersey Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown CS1 Japanese - language sources ( ja ) All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from June 2016 Wikipedia indefinitely semi-protected pages Articles with hCards All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from October 2015 Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with SNAC - ID identifiers Wikipedia articles with PIC identifiers Articles containing video clips Talk Views View source Contents About Wikipedia Wikiquote Afrikaans Asturianu تۆرکجه বাংলা Беларуская Български Bosanski Brezhoneg Català Čeština Cymraeg Dansk Deutsch Eesti Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français Frysk Gaeilge Gàidhlig Galego 한국어 Հայերեն हिन्दी Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Íslenska Italiano עברית ಕನ್ನಡ Kapampangan ქართული Қазақша Latina Latviešu Lëtzebuergesch Lietuvių Lumbaart Magyar Македонски Malagasy മലയാളം Bahasa Melayu Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Norsk nynorsk Occitan پښتو Picard Piemontèis Plattdüütsch Polski Português Română Русский Scots Shqip Sicilianu සිංහල Simple English Slovenčina Slovenščina کوردی Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Tagalog தமிழ் Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt Winaray ייִדיש Yorùbá 粵語 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 19 December 2017, at 06 : 03. 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Question: who was the second man to step on the moon
Answer: Buzz Aldrin