Origins & Early Life

Buzz Aldrin ( AWL-drin; born Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr., January 20, 1930) is an American former astronaut, aeronautical engineer, and fighter pilot. He was the second person to walk on the Moon after mission commander Neil Armstrong. He made three spacewalks as pilot of NASA’s 1966 Gemini 12 mission, and was the Lunar Module Eagle pilot on the 1969 Apollo 11 mission. Following the deaths of Armstrong in 2012 and pilot Michael Collins in 2021, Aldrin is the last surviving Apollo 11 crew member, and the oldest living astronaut.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, Aldrin graduated third in the class of 1951 from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a degree in mechanical engineering. He was commissioned into the United States Air Force and served as a jet fighter pilot during the Korean War. He flew 66 combat missions and shot down two MiG-15 fighter jets. After earning a Doctor of Science degree in astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Aldrin was selected as a member of NASA's Astronaut Group 3, making him the first astronaut with a doctoral degree. His doctoral thesis, Line-of-Sight Guidance Techniques for Manned Orbital Rendezvous, earned him...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Alfred Wegener — Contemporary (Died in 1930) (1930): Pioneering geophysicist known for proposing the theory of continental drift.
• Allan Bloom — Contemporary (Born in 1930) (1930): American philosopher and classicist known for championing Great Books education.
• Arthur Conan Doyle — Contemporary (Died in 1930) (1930): Pioneering author of Sherlock Holmes and speculative fiction master.
• Adam Oehlenschläger — Shared historical date (01-20 · Died) (1850): Pioneering Danish Romantic poet and playwright who shaped national literature.
• Al-Shafi'i — Shared historical date (01-20 · Died) (820): Founder of the Shāfiʿī school of Sunni Islamic jurisprudence and jurist.
• Bobby Bland — Historical peer (Born in 1930) (1930): Pioneering blues and soul artist known for tempestuous arias of love and betrayal.
• Chinua Achebe — Historical peer (Born in 1930) (1930): Pioneering voice of modern African literature, Achebe challenged colonial narratives.
• A. R. Rahman — Historical peer (Born in 1966) (1966): Visionary Indian composer celebrated for blending global sounds with cinematic emotion.
• Adam Sandler — Historical peer (Born in 1966) (1966): Acclaimed comedian and actor known for his prolific career in Hollywood comedy.
• Adam Gilchrist — Historical peer (Born in 1969) (1969): Legendary Australian cricketer, redefining the wicket-keeper-batsman role with aggressive flair.
• 1930 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1930
• January 20 (01-20) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on January 20