The Second Man
Everyone knows Buzz Aldrin as the second man on the Moon. An accomplished student and a decorated air pilot, Aldrin arrived at NASA with impressive credentials but still ended up playing second fiddle. And after leaving NASA, the astronaut fell on some dark times that may have had foreshadowing earlier in life…
1. He Got His Name From A Baby
Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr was born in New Jersey on January 20,1930. He had two older sisters, Madeleine and Fay Ann, the latter of whom was barely a toddler herself when her brother was born. She mispronounced the word “brother” as “buzzer”, and over time, the youngest Aldrin’s nickname got shortened to Buzz. It didn’t take long before he made another kind of name for himself.
2. He Was A Model Student
Buzz Aldrin was something of a child prodigy in school. A diligent student with a strong work ethic, he not only played starting center for his high school football team, but also maintained an “A” average all the while. Buzz had some high expectations to live up to.
NASA/Jim Lovell, Wikimedia Commons
3. His Father Had A Plan
Though Buzz’s father, Edwin Sr, had been an Army aviator himself, he wanted his son to attend the prestigious United States Naval Academy. Buzz was not into the idea, however; he was prone to seasickness and considered ships to be a distraction from his true ambition to fly planes. He eventually confronted his father and told him, in no uncertain terms, that he would be attending the United States Military Academy at West Point. And he proved his worth.
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4. He Excelled Academically
Aldrin took to life at West Point immediately. He became the school’s star athlete in pole vault and track and field and even finished first in his class in his first year. By 1951, he graduated third in his class with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. And with the outbreak of conflict, he got his experience quick.
5. He Went To Battle
A year before Aldrin’s graduation, the United States’ involvement in the conflict in Korea had escalated. Having graduated among the top of his class, they gave Buzz his choice of assignments, and he opted for the newly established United States Air Force. Deploying to Korea, Aldrin would experience some dramatic flights.
《People’s Drawing》, Wikimedia Commons
6. He Had A Few Close Calls
Buzz Aldrin flew 66 combat missions over the course of his service in Korea. Some of these proved to be nail biters: during one flight, for instance, his fuel system froze at 100% power, which would have used up all his fuel. Aldrin managed to override the setting manually, but this maneuver made radio use impossible, and he barely made it back safely under this enforced radio silence.
During another mission, Aldrin found himself forced to eject from his aircraft, a dramatic event immortalized in a series of Life magazine photos. When he finally got back on American soil, Buzz wasn’t ready to slow down yet.
7. He Looked To The Stars
In 1959, Aldrin enrolled as a graduate student in MIT, intending to earn a master’s degree studying astronautics. He enjoyed the classwork so much that he soon decided instead to pursue a doctorate, earning his ScD degree in 1963. By then, he had already decided on his next goal.
United States Air Force, Wikimedia Commons
8. He Courted The Big Dogs
Buzz Aldrin titled his doctoral thesis Line-of-Sight Guidance Techniques for Manned Orbital Rendezvous. He intended the thesis to assist in space exploration and made no secret of the fact that he was trying to attract the attention of NASA and their astronaut program. His efforts paid off.
Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided, Wikimedia Commons
9. He Got A Start On His Dreams
Aldrin had applied for the astronaut program, but he got rejected because he did not meet the requirement of being a test pilot. In 1963, however, NASA altered their requirements, and they finally selected Buzz as one of 14 members of Astronaut Group 3. He was the first astronaut with a doctorate degree, and his peers didn’t let him forget it.
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10. He Had A Reputation
Based on his academic achievements, and borrowing a word from the title of his thesis, Aldrin’s fellow astronauts took to calling him “Dr Rendezvous”. And though Buzz was among the more accomplished astronauts, it did not always earn him respect.
Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided, Wikimedia Commons
11. He Was Teased
Buzz Aldrin knew well that his nickname was not always meant as a compliment. In fact, he felt that some of the other astronauts, who were mostly pilots and not academics, viewed him as something of an egghead. Still, the group cultivated a strong sense of camaraderie eventually. They’d need it for their busy schedule.
Staff Sgt. Jason Couillard, Wikimedia Commons
12. He Went To Space A Lot
Aldrin was among the astronauts selected for Project Gemini, the United States’ second program to conduct human spaceflights. Buzz was a frequent flier, too: in 1966 alone, he performed three spacewalks. Things did not always go smoothly, either.
NASA Kennedy Space Center / NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Wikimedia Commons
13. He Showed His Skill
One of Aldrin’s 1966 missions was Gemini 12, where the main objective was to rendezvous with a target vehicle and successfully dock the piloted vehicle to the target. However, as Gemini 12 approached the target vehicle, radar contact between the two vessels deteriorated completely, which forced the crew to rendezvous manually.
Dr Rendezvous had met his moment, and Aldrin, using charts he had helped create, relayed information to the pilot for a successful mission. He returned to Earth in glory, but the good feelings didn’t last long.
Project Apollo Archive, Wikimedia Commons
14. He Couldn’t Reacclimate
After returning from the Gemini 12 mission, Aldrin’s wife noticed something about the astronaut that she had never seen before: he had fallen into a deep depression. While this appeared to be a mere blip for now, it would foreshadow some future dark times for the astronaut. Aldrin soon got the call of his life, however, and that pulled him out of his funk.
15. He Got A Call From Destiny
On November 20, 1967, NASA announced that Buzz Aldrin had received assignment to the Apollo crew, under the command of Neil Armstrong. Its mission, so well known, is barely worth printing: they sought to put a man on the Moon. Buzz may have let the importance of this get to his head.
Campus Party Brasil, Wikimedia Commons
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16. He Made Trouble
Relationships among the Apollo crew were not all sunny, and there was friction in the lead up to the big mission. Some members found Aldrin, in particular, quite difficult to work with. Still, no one could deny his capability, and soon the world would know his name.
Project Apollo Archive, Wikimedia Commons
17. The World Watched Him
On July 16, 1969, the world looked on in awe as Apollo 11 launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida. On board were Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin. Their destination? The lunar surface. Televised in 33 different countries, 25 million people in America alone viewed the launch. Buzz was about to make history.
18. He Made The Descent
Apollo 11 reached the Moon’s orbit on July 19, and the next day, Buzz Aldrin and Armstrong boarded Eagle, the craft which would bring them to the surface. Armstrong was the pilot, but his descent was helped in no small part by Aldrin, who announced the navigation data crucial to the mission. The Eagle landed successfully on the Moon on July 20, 1969, and Aldrin stepped out into his destiny…right after his commander.
NASA Johnson Space Center, Wikimedia Commons
19. He Was Number Two
Everyone is familiar with Neil Armstrong’s famous words as he stepped out of the Eagle, the first words ever uttered on the Moon. Aldrin took up the rear, of course, following his commander to make history as the second human to stand on a surface that wasn’t Earth. It was an incredible honor that Aldrin had some feelings about.
20. He Was Bitter
Many will forever hold Michael Collins in high esteem for his humble concession to remain in orbit, not touching down on the Moon himself on that mission. The same, unfortunately, cannot be said for Buzz Aldrin. Collins later wrote of Aldrin’s insecurity around his number two role, commenting that Buzz “resents not being first on the Moon more than he appreciates being second”. Still, Aldrin made the most of his time up there.
21. He Performed A Secret Ritual
Aldrin was a committed and pious Presbyterian elder, and soon after touching down on the Moon, he took the opportunity to perform the first ever religious ceremony there—though he did so in secret. From a kit given to him by his pastor, Aldrin took communion and read a passage from the New Testament. He would later regret it, however.
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22. He Failed To Represent All Of Earth
Later, in his 2009 book, Buzz Aldrin expressed some remorse for the ceremony, suggesting he wouldn’t perform it if given a do-over. Noting that it was still deeply meaningful for him, he nevertheless reasoned that “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”. Interestingly, the ceremony facilitated another Moon “first”.
23. He Was The First To Chow Down
Because he took communion, both bread and wine, Aldrin inadvertently also set another precedent: he became the first person to consume food and to pour liquid on the Moon. Perhaps his act of faith inspired his words too.
24. He Summed It Up
As mentioned, everyone knows Neil Armstrong’s first words on the Moon. But Aldrin himself followed it with some poetic observations himself. After emerging onto the surface 19 minutes after Armstrong, Aldrin summed up the beautiful sight around him: “Magnificent desolation”. It was a Kodak moment like no other.
25. He Got A Timeline-Worthy Pic
Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong quickly proceeded to erect an American flag, and after some difficulty, managed to secure it into the Moon’s surface. Armstrong had a camera on hand and snapped a now-famous shot of Aldrin saluting the flag. It was just one of a photo album’s worth.
NASA / Neil A. Armstrong, Wikimedia Commons
26. He Hogged The Lens
Buzz Aldrin performed several tests and inspections on the lunar surface, leaving Armstrong to hold the camera. As a result, and somewhat unintentionally, most of the iconic photos taken on the Moon are of Aldrin, with Armstrong appearing in just two. With their work done, it was time for the men to return home. But not before Aldrin set another first.
27. He Relieved Himself
After being the last one out, Aldrin was also the first back into Eagle, but not before answering nature’s call. By his account, Buzz was the first person ever to urinate on the Moon. It was the least impressive of his achievements, but it made up one small part of a celebrated whole.
United States Air Force, Wikimedia Commons
28. He Got A Warm Welcome
Aldrin and the rest of the Apollo crew successfully landed back on Earth on July 24, 1969. After 21 days in quarantine, they emerged as national heroes and worldwide celebrities. Giant parades, attended by the crew, were held in their honor in New York and Chicago, where millions came out to see them. They had dinner with the nation’s most important citizen too.
NASA Johnson Space Center, Wikimedia Commons
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29. He Received The Highest Honor
At an official state dinner on August 13, Aldrin and his crewmates were rewarded the highest honor for American civilians. President Richard Nixon presented the three men with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. People couldn’t get enough of the astronauts.
30. He Toured The Globe
On September 29, Aldrin and his crewmates embarked on a world tour, turning their achievements into a world celebration. Over 38 days, the astronauts visited 22 different countries. Upon returning to the States, Aldrin continued giving speeches and public appearances. But eventually, he needed to get back to work.
31. His Status Became A Problem
Aldrin soon got a new job at Edwards Air Force Base as Commandant of the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School, where a third of the training curriculum involved astronaut training, something he was well qualified for. Buzz clashed with his superior officer, however. The astronaut’s newfound celebrity status led some to defer to him over the higher-ranking general, and this caused much tension. It was only the beginning of his problems.
United States Air Force, Wikimedia Commons
32. He Got The Blame
What was supposed to be an enjoyable job for Aldrin grew increasingly stressful. During his tenure, two major aircraft crashes occurred at Edwards. Mercifully, there were no casualties, but the higher ups held Aldrin responsible for the costly aircraft losses. It got to be too much for Buzz.
Civil Aeronautics Board, Wikimedia Commons
33. His Mental Health Deteriorated
Aldrin began experiencing debilitating pain in his neck and shoulders, and decided to see the base surgeon, where he got a surprising diagnosis: depression. Aldrin’s family had a history of the condition, and he opted to quietly commit himself to a treatment facility for four weeks. There was great stigma around mental illness at the time, and Aldrin feared for his career. This fear led him further into the darkness.
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia Commons
34. He Struggled With Substance Issues
Among all his work troubles, Aldrin also struggled to adjust to life in the limelight with his newfound celebrity status. He began turning to booze to get through the day, and his later autobiography recounts his battle with alcoholism during this time. Attempting to lessen his burden, he decided it was time to retire.
MediaNews Group/Orange County Register, Getty Images
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35. He Got A Regular Job
Aldrin retired as a colonel after 21 years of service, on March 1, 1972. However, he quickly got restless with nothing to fill his days. On the advice of a therapist, he decided to take a “regular” job and worked for a while as a used car salesman. Buzz did not take to it, however, and his life began spiraling further still.
Project Apollo Archive, Wikimedia Commons
36. He Hit Rock Bottom
The next few years were the worst of Aldrin’s life as his issues worsened. He would alternate between periods of sobriety, heavy drinking, and hospitalization for depression. This all culminated in Buzz getting arrested for disorderly conduct. The resulting shame was the last straw.
Michael Ochs Archives, Getty Images
37. He Got Sober
In October of 1978, Buzz Aldrin finally kicked his habit for good. He gave up drinking and has remained sober to this day. From then on, his life stayed relatively quiet for the next couple of decades, in which he mostly helped others deal with their own drinking problems. But his name popped up in headlines again a couple of years into the new millennium.
38. He Got Tricked
Aldrin was summoned to a Beverly Hills hotel to be interviewed for a Japanese children’s show on September 9, 2002. This proved to be a ruse, however, and upon arrival, Buzz was confronted by conspiracy theorist Bart Sibrel, who doubted the legitimacy of the Moon landing.
After being repeatedly provoked by Sibrel, Aldrin punched the provocateur in the jaw, a moment captured on film. Authorities took the astronaut’s side, however, agreeing that Sibrel provoked him and opting not to press charges. This dramatic incident aside, Aldrin seemed to really have his life together now.
39. He Was An Adventurer
After getting sober, Aldrin took a keen interest in arctic exploration. He travelled to the North Pole in 1998 and, even more impressively, reached the South Pole in 2016, becoming the oldest person to ever do so at 86 years of age. All the while, Aldrin kept up his advocacy too.
40. He Wants To Explore Further
After retiring from NASA, Aldrin remained a steadfast advocate for further space exploration. He has been particularly outspoken about funding for a manned mission to Mars, lobbying politicians to greenlight such a project at every opportunity. He even helped out with the logistics.
NASA Kennedy from United StatesNASA/Charles Babir, Wikimedia Commons
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41. He Shortened The Journey
As part of his ongoing advocacy and interest, Buzz proposed a spacecraft trajectory to Mars known as the Aldrin cycler. His trajectory reduces the potential cost of repeated travel to Mars by lessening propellant use, while simultaneously cutting the travel time from Earth to the Red Planet down to five and a half months. With this, Aldrin had courted the scientists, but he needed to get the public on his side too.
Kevin Gill from Nashua, NH, United States, Wikimedia Commons
42. He Hit The Studio
Amusingly, Aldrin commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Moon landing with an unexpected project: he created a rap single to promote further space exploration. Buzz wasn’t alone though, teaming up with big names like Quincy Jones, Snoop Dogg, Soulja Boy, and Talib Kweli to create the track, “Rocket Experience”. Aldrin has inspired some other pop cultural icons too.
Screenshot from Rocket Experience, Will.i.am Music Group (2009)
43. He Inspired A Name
The 1995 Pixar-animated classic, Toy Story, had an astronaut character, originally named Lunar Larry. However, the writers of the movie later renamed him, taking inspiration from Aldrin’s chosen moniker, and Buzz Lightyear was born. And while Aldrin had little to do with the movie himself, he was not afraid to lend his voice and image to the screen.
Screenshot from Toy Story, Walt Disney Pictures (1995)
44. He Graced The Small Screen
Aldrin has appeared on television many times over the years, often in a charmingly self-deprecating manner. He has had guest roles in such comedies as 30 Rock, Futurama, Da Ali G Show, and (your humble author’s personal favorite) The Simpsons. It’s a wonder Aldrin had time for all this work, given the business of his personal life.
Screenshot from 30 Rock, NBCUniversal Television (2012)
45. He’s Had A Few Weddings
Aldrin has been married four times in total. Of those marriages, it was only from his first that he had children, three in total. He made his most recent marriage public on his 93rd birthday, where the astronaut announced on Twitter that he had married his 63-year-old companion, Anca Faur. All those divorces may have weathered the moonwalker.
United States House of Representatives, Wikimedia Commons
46. He Had Some Work Done
Aldrin confirmed in Time magazine in 2007 that he had had a face-lift. He accompanied the revelation with good-natured humor, joking that exposure to g-forces in space “caused a sagging jowl that needed some attention”. Of course, Aldrin’s aging meant that he’s had to say goodbye to some close compatriots.
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47. He Outlived His Crew
Following the passing of Neil Armstrong in 2012 and Michael Collins in 2021, Aldrin is now the last surviving member of the Apollo 11 mission. Aldrin expressed sadness about Armstrong in particular, regretting that his old commander did not survive to mark the 50th anniversary of their history-making mission. Aging came with other problems for Buzz too.
NASA / Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., Wikimedia Commons
48. He Clashed With His Kids
Aldrin became involved in a legal dispute with his own children in 2018, when they claimed he was the victim of elder abuse by some new friends he had made that encouraged the allegedly dementia-impaired astronaut to alienate his family and lavishly spend his savings.
Aldrin countersued his kids, claiming they were the ones exploiting him; they eventually dropped their lawsuit in 2019. Some might believe their claims of Aldrin’s dementia, however, given his political beliefs.
Staff Sgt. Jason Couillard, Wikimedia Commons
49. He Votes Red
Aldrin has been a lifelong Republican, often publicly endorsing the party’s candidates for office. Controversially for some, Buzz endorsed Donald Trump in the 2024 election, citing Trump’s apparent passion for space exploration. Aldrin may not have to live long to face the consequences of the President’s other policies, however…
The White House from Washington, DC, Wikimedia Commons
50. He’s An Elder Spaceman
On August 7, 2025, Jim Lovell, one of the first astronauts in space, passed at the age of 97. This means that Buzz Aldrin is now the oldest living astronaut. From the poles of the Earth all the way to the Moon, Aldrin has truly made the most of his 95 years on (and off) the planet.
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