Biography

Buzz Aldrin became an instant household name after the historic Apollo XI moon walk on July 20 1969, when he and Neil Armstrong became the first two humans to set foot on another world.

This unprecedented heroic endeavour was witnessed by the largest worldwide television audience in history.

Educated at West Point, He graduated with honours in 1951. After receiving his wings, he flew Sabre jets in 66 combat missions in the Korean conflict. He then returned to continue his education, earning a Doctorate in Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Manned Space Rendezvous.

The techniques he devised were used on all NASA missions, including the first docking with the Russian Cosmonauts.

In October 1963, Buzz was selected by NASA as one of the early astronauts. In November 1966, he established a new record for Extra-Vehicular Activity in space on the Gemini XII orbital flight mission. He has logged 4500 hours of flying time, 290 of which were in space. As Backup Command Module Pilot for Apollo VIII, man's first flight around the moon, Buzz significantly improved operational techniques for astronautical navigation star display. Then in July 1969, he and Neil Armstrong made their historic Apollo XI moon walk.

Upon returning from the moon Buzz embarked on an international goodwill tour. He was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honour amongst over 50 other distinguished awards and medals from the United States and numerous other countries.

Since retiring from NASA, the Air Force, and his position as Commander of the Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, Dr. Aldrin has remained at the forefront of efforts to ensure a continued leading role for America in manned space exploration. To advance his lifelong commitment to venturing outward in space, he has created a master plan of evolving missions for sustained exploration utilising his concept, “The Cycler", a spacecraft system which makes perpetual orbits between Earth and Mars, and in 1993 received a patent for a permanent space station he designed.

Buzz has written a science fiction novel, Encounter with Tiber, an epic saga of exploration and discovery of the ultimate frontier of space. He has also authored an autobiography, Return to Earth and a historical documentary, Men from Earth, describing his trip to the moon and his unique perspective on America's future in space.

He participates in many space organisations worldwide, including chairmanship of the National Space Society, developing future space programmes and space education. He has also acted in a consultancy capacity for a consortium which aims to revolutionise air travel by developing an aircraft that will transport several hundred passengers to the other side of the world in two or three hours.

Having made numerous television appearances, including the David Letterman Show, Larry King Live, Oprah Winfrey, CNN and The Simpsons, he frequently publishes articles and opinion editorials setting forth his innovative ideas and designs for space travel, both near and far, and has been interviewed regularly in magazines and newspapers all over the world. Buzz Aldrin is internationally recognised as a dynamic and inspiring speaker.