Buzz Aldrin Timeline

(January 20, 1930 – Present)

Buzz Aldrin is an American astronaut, engineer, and fighter pilot best known as one of the first two humans to walk on the Moon during NASA's Apollo 11 mission in 1969. Born Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr., he earned the nickname 'Buzz' and later legally changed his name. Over his career, he served as Lunar Module pilot on Apollo 11, logged over 290 hours in space, and became a lifelong advocate for human space exploration and Mars colonization. More Less

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Early Life and Education

Born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey

Jan 20, 1930

Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr., later known as Buzz Aldrin, was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, to Edwin Sr., an aviation executive, and Marion Moon Aldrin. His mother's nickname for him, 'Buzz,' came from her mispronunciation of 'brother,' a name he would later legally adopt.

Image source: Buzz Aldrin

Graduates from Montclair High School

1946

Aldrin graduated from Montclair High School in New Jersey at age 16, having distinguished himself as a gifted student, particularly in mathematics and science, foreshadowing his future engineering and astronautical accomplishments.

Attends the United States Military Academy at West Point

1947 - 1951

Aldrin turned down an MIT scholarship to attend West Point, where he studied mechanical engineering and excelled athletically. He graduated third in his class of 475 cadets with a bachelor of science degree.

Image source: United States Military Academy

Earns doctorate of science in astronautics from MIT

1963

Aldrin earned a Doctor of Science degree in astronautics from MIT with a thesis on orbital rendezvous techniques for manned spacecraft. His work on orbital mechanics earned him the nickname 'Dr. Rendezvous' and proved vital for lunar missions.

Image source: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Military Career

Commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force

1951

Upon graduating from West Point, Aldrin was commissioned into the United States Air Force, beginning a military career that would include combat service and advanced academic training.

Earns pilot wings and joins fighter squadron

1952

Aldrin earned his pilot wings at Bryan Air Force Base, Texas, and was assigned to the 51st Fighter Wing in Japan and later Korea, where he flew F-86 Sabre jet fighters during the Korean War.

Flies 66 combat missions in the Korean War

1952 - 1953

Flying F-86 Sabres out of Suwon Air Base, Aldrin completed 66 combat missions in Korea and shot down two MiG-15 aircraft, demonstrating exceptional skill as a fighter pilot.

Image source: Korean War

Flies 66 combat missions in the Korean War

Serves as aerial gunnery instructor in Nevada

1953 - 1955

After returning from Korea, Aldrin served as an aerial gunnery instructor at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, sharing his combat experience with a new generation of pilots.

Image source: Nellis Air Force Base

Commands F-100 Super Sabre squadron flight in West Germany

1956 - 1959

Aldrin flew F-100 Super Sabre aircraft as a flight commander at Bitburg Air Base in West Germany, where he gained valuable leadership and operational experience with NATO forces.

Image source: Bitburg Airport

NASA and Spaceflight

Selected in NASA's third astronaut group

Oct 1963

Aldrin was selected as one of fourteen astronauts in NASA's third group, chosen in part because his doctoral expertise in orbital rendezvous made him exceptionally qualified for the Gemini and Apollo programs.

Image source: NASA Astronaut Group 3

Serves as backup crew for Gemini 9

1966

After the deaths of the prime Gemini 9 crew, Elliott See and Charles Bassett, Aldrin was assigned as backup pilot for the mission, gaining valuable preparation for his own spaceflight.

Image source: Gemini 9A

Pioneers underwater EVA training techniques

1966

To prepare for Gemini 12, Aldrin helped pioneer neutral buoyancy underwater training, which simulated weightlessness and allowed him to practice tasks methodically — a technique that became standard for all subsequent spacewalk training.

Image source: Neutral buoyancy simulation as a training aid

Named backup pilot for Gemini 9 after See-Bassett tragedy

Feb 28, 1966

Following the T-38 crash that killed the original Gemini 9 prime crew, Aldrin was moved onto the backup crew, positioning him for his own flight assignment and demonstrating NASA's confidence in him.

Flies aboard Gemini 12 with Jim Lovell

Nov 11, 1966 - Nov 15, 1966

On Gemini 12, Aldrin performed three successful extravehicular activities (EVAs), including a record-setting 5.5-hour spacewalk, proving that humans could work effectively outside a spacecraft — a critical milestone for the Apollo program.

Image source: Gemini 12

Assigned as backup command module pilot for Apollo 8

1967 - 1968

Aldrin trained as backup command module pilot for Apollo 8, the first crewed mission to orbit the Moon, keeping him in rotation for a prime crew assignment on a subsequent Apollo mission.

Image source: Apollo 8

Assigned as backup command module pilot for Apollo 8

Named lunar module pilot for Apollo 11

Jan 9, 1969

NASA announced that Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin would fly Apollo 11, the mission scheduled to attempt the first crewed lunar landing, fulfilling President Kennedy's goal before the decade's end.

Image source: Apollo 11

Apollo 11 launches toward the Moon

Jul 16, 1969

The Saturn V rocket carrying Armstrong, Collins, and Aldrin lifted off from Kennedy Space Center before a crowd of over a million spectators, beginning humanity's historic first attempt at a crewed lunar landing.

Eagle lands on the Moon in the Sea of Tranquility

Jul 20, 1969

Aldrin and Armstrong piloted the lunar module Eagle to a safe landing in the Sea of Tranquility, with only about 25 seconds of fuel remaining. Aldrin famously took communion privately shortly after landing and coined the phrase 'Magnificent desolation' to describe the lunar surface.

Second human to walk on the Moon

Jul 21, 1969

Minutes after Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin stepped onto the lunar surface, becoming the second person ever to walk on the Moon. Together they spent about two and a half hours outside, collecting samples, deploying experiments, and planting the American flag.

Splashdown in the Pacific Ocean ends Apollo 11

Jul 24, 1969

After eight days in space, the Apollo 11 crew splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean and was recovered by the USS Hornet, then placed in quarantine to guard against potential lunar contaminants.

Celebrates Apollo 11 triumph with ticker-tape parades

Aug 13, 1969

The Apollo 11 crew received a ticker-tape parade in New York City, attended banquets worldwide, and met President Nixon. Aldrin, along with his crewmates, was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, becoming one of history's most celebrated figures.

Later Life and Advocacy

Becomes commandant of the USAF Test Pilot School

1971 - 1972

After leaving NASA, Aldrin served as commandant of the Air Force Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California, where he oversaw the training of elite test pilots.

Image source: U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School

Retires from NASA and the Air Force

Jul 1, 1971

Struggling with the fame and lack of clear purpose after Apollo 11, Aldrin resigned from NASA in 1971 and retired from the U.S. Air Force with the rank of colonel, later becoming candid about his battles with depression and alcoholism.

Publishes memoir 'Return to Earth'

1973

Aldrin published his first autobiography, Return to Earth, which openly discussed his struggles with depression and alcoholism following the Moon landing, helping destigmatize mental health issues among public figures.

Image source: The Return of the King

Enters treatment for depression and alcoholism

1975

Aldrin sought help for his struggles and entered treatment for depression and alcohol dependency, achieving long-term sobriety and becoming an advocate for mental health awareness.

Helps design the Space Shuttle's approach and landing simulator

1985

Drawing on his aerospace engineering expertise, Aldrin contributed to the design of a simulator used to train Space Shuttle pilots in approach and landing procedures, continuing his involvement in America's space program.

Image source: Space Shuttle

Helps design the Space Shuttle's approach and landing simulator

Publishes science fiction novel 'Encounter with Tiber'

1996

Co-written with John Barnes, this science fiction novel showcased Aldrin's visionary ideas about interstellar travel and humanity's future in space, blending hard science with imaginative storytelling.

Image source: Encounter with Tiber

Rides a bicycle across Europe promoting space education

1998

In his late sixties, Aldrin undertook cycling journeys across Europe, promoting space exploration advocacy and demonstrating his lifelong energy and commitment to inspiring public interest in science.

Launches ShareSpace Foundation and space advocacy efforts

1998

Through his ShareSpace Foundation and related initiatives, Aldrin has promoted STEM education and space tourism, working to make the dream of space travel accessible to everyday people and inspire young people toward careers in science.

Publishes autobiography 'Magnificent Desolation'

2009

Forty years after walking on the Moon, Aldrin released Magnificent Desolation, a deeply personal account of his journey home from the Moon and his decades-long struggle with addiction and depression, which became a bestseller.

Image source: Magnificent Desolation (book)

Competes on Dancing with the Stars

2010

At age 80, Aldrin appeared on season 10 of Dancing with the Stars, charming audiences and using the platform to promote space exploration to new generations, though he was eliminated early in the competition.

Receives Congressional Gold Medal

Nov 16, 2011

Along with fellow Apollo 11 crewmates John Glenn and other pioneering astronauts, Aldrin was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian honors in the United States, recognizing his extraordinary contributions to space exploration.

Image source: Congressional Gold Medal

Publishes book 'Mission to Mars'

May 2013

Aldrin outlined his vision for the permanent human settlement of Mars, advocating for international cooperation and a step-by-step plan involving the Moon and asteroids as stepping stones to the Red Planet.

Image source: Mission to Mars

Key Facts

Buzz Aldrin was born on January 20, 1930, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, and graduated third in his class from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1951.
He flew 66 combat missions as a fighter pilot during the Korean War before earning a doctorate in astronautics from MIT in 1963.
On July 20, 1969, Aldrin became the second person to walk on the Moon as Lunar Module pilot of Apollo 11, joining Neil Armstrong on the lunar surface.
Aldrin flew on Gemini 12 in 1966, where he pioneered underwater training techniques for spacewalks and set a record for EVA duration at the time.
After retiring from NASA in 1971, he became a prominent author and advocate for Mars colonization, founding the Buzz Aldrin Space Institute to promote human exploration of space.

Source

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