Buzz Aldrin
Early Life/Career
Buzz Aldrin was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey on January 20, 1930. His real name was Edwin E. Aldrin. His sister mispronounced the word brother as Buzzer so they shortened it and made it a nickname. In 1988 he made it his legal first name. After graduating from high school he went to West Point Military Academy. Buzz officially joined the U.S. Air Force in 1951 against his fathers wishes. He joined the 51st Fighter Wing and flew in 66 combat missions with F-86 Sabre Jets in Korea. He shot down 61 Migs and grounded 57 others. After the war ended he went back to school at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He earned his PhD in aeronautics and astronautics in 1963. Aldrin was part of the group selected by NASA to attempt a space flight.
Space Flight
Buzz went through a lot of training to become an astronaut. He went under water to simulate zero gravity. One of his first flights was Apollo 8 with Neil Armstrong and (Harrison) Jack Schmitt. He was most known for his Apollo 11 moonwalk on July 20, 1969 with Armstrong. He was known as the second person on the moon. He spent a total of 21 hours on the moon before returning with 46 pounds of moon rock. The first moonwalk was a televised event that that was watched by an estimated 600 million people which was the worlds largest television audience. Buzz and his Apollo 11 crew have four stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Later Life
In the years following his voyage he retired from the US Air Force after serving for 21 years. He later suffered with depression and alcoholism in his following years with NASA. Aldrin married three times: his first wife was Joan Archer followed by Beverly Zile. His last wife was Lois Driggs Cannon but later announced plans to get a divorce in 2011.
Buzz Aldrin was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey on January 20, 1930. His real name was Edwin E. Aldrin. His sister mispronounced the word brother as Buzzer so they shortened it and made it a nickname. In 1988 he made it his legal first name. After graduating from high school he went to West Point Military Academy. Buzz officially joined the U.S. Air Force in 1951 against his fathers wishes. He joined the 51st Fighter Wing and flew in 66 combat missions with F-86 Sabre Jets in Korea. He shot down 61 Migs and grounded 57 others. After the war ended he went back to school at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He earned his PhD in aeronautics and astronautics in 1963. Aldrin was part of the group selected by NASA to attempt a space flight.
Space Flight
Buzz went through a lot of training to become an astronaut. He went under water to simulate zero gravity. One of his first flights was Apollo 8 with Neil Armstrong and (Harrison) Jack Schmitt. He was most known for his Apollo 11 moonwalk on July 20, 1969 with Armstrong. He was known as the second person on the moon. He spent a total of 21 hours on the moon before returning with 46 pounds of moon rock. The first moonwalk was a televised event that that was watched by an estimated 600 million people which was the worlds largest television audience. Buzz and his Apollo 11 crew have four stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Later Life
In the years following his voyage he retired from the US Air Force after serving for 21 years. He later suffered with depression and alcoholism in his following years with NASA. Aldrin married three times: his first wife was Joan Archer followed by Beverly Zile. His last wife was Lois Driggs Cannon but later announced plans to get a divorce in 2011.
“Space travel for everyone is the next frontier in the human experience” - Buzz Aldrin
Resources
<http://nelsonndhs.org/Per6_Fall_2010/Astro%20Spacism/Assets/aldrin_buzz.jpg>
<http://www.thisisjersey.com/news/uk-news/2013/01/10/aldrin-hails-space-trip-competition/>
http://www.biography.com/people/buzz-aldrin-9179894?page=2
<http://www.thisisjersey.com/news/uk-news/2013/01/10/aldrin-hails-space-trip-competition/>
http://www.biography.com/people/buzz-aldrin-9179894?page=2
Neil Armstrong the first man on the moon went with Buzz to the moon