Buzz Aldrin

By: Shaun Hambly

Buzz Aldrin, born Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr. in 1930, was a decorated astronaut and former fighter pilot who, in July 1969, became the second human to walk on the Moon during NASA’s historic Apollo 11 mission. A graduate of West Point and MIT, Aldrin was known for his sharp intellect, precision, and engineering prowess—his doctoral work on orbital mechanics directly contributed to space rendezvous techniques. Unlike the stoic Neil Armstrong, Aldrin was more expressive and candid, with a confident, sometimes blunt manner. His military background and technical brilliance gave him a no-nonsense presence, but he also carried an inner intensity and later struggled with the emotional aftermath of fame and re-entry into civilian life.

In 1969, Aldrin was at the peak of his career—an American hero fresh from the Moon, a living symbol of technological achievement, courage, and Cold War victory. He was proud, driven, and slightly more showman than his crewmates, with an edge of restlessness just below the surface.