Buzz Aldrin.

Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr. was born on January 20, 1930, in Montclair, New Jersey. His father, Edwin Eugene Aldrin Sr., was a U.S. Army Air Service colonel, and his mother, Marion Gladys Moon. A younger sister mispronounced brother as buzzer, giving him the lifelong nickname Buzz. He attended Montclair High School and the United States Military Academy at West Point, graduating third in his class in 1951. Aldrin earned a doctorate in astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a degree that proved essential for his NASA career.

Buzz Aldrin’s first spaceflight was as pilot of Gemini 12 in November 1966, where he performed three spacewalks and set a record for extravehicular activity. His most famous mission was Apollo 11 in July 1969, serving as Lunar Module Eagle pilot. Alongside Neil Armstrong, he spent two hours on the lunar surface, becoming the second person to walk on the Moon. After retiring from NASA in 1971, Aldrin returned to the Air Force and later wrote multiple books, including the memoir Magnificent Desolation 2009. He transitioned to television, appearing as himself on The Simpsons, The Big Bang Theory, and Futurama, and competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2010.

Aldrin married Joan Ann Archer on December 29, 1954; they had three children—Janice, Andrew, and James—before divorcing in 1975. He then married Beverly Van Zile on December 31, 1975, but that marriage ended in divorce in 1978. His third marriage was to Lois Driggs Cannon from February 14, 1988, until their divorce in 2012. On his 93rd birthday, January 20, 2023, he married Dr. Anca Faur, a chemical engineer. Aldrin struggled with depression and alcoholism after Apollo 11, entering rehab in 1975. He has been open about his recovery and wrote about it in his memoir. In 2007, at age 77, he underwent a face-lift, attributing sagging jowls to years of G-force exposure as a fighter pilot and astronaut.

Buzz Aldrin’s legacy is tied to the Apollo 11 mission, making him one of only twelve people to walk on the Moon. He has received over 25 major awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Aldrin was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2008 and the International Space Hall of Fame. With the passing of Mike Collins in 2021, Aldrin became the last surviving member of the Apollo 11 crew. His continued advocacy for space exploration and his appearances in popular culture keep his pioneering spirit alive. He is most remembered as the second human being to set foot on the lunar surface, a moment that captivated the world.