We often talk a lot about Neil Armstrong, the first person to set foot on the Moon, creating a major turning point in human history. But in a flight of three astronauts, the contributions of Buzz Aldrin or Michael Collins to the Apollo 11 mission were no less important.
In fact, Buzz Aldrin also made history when he became the second person after Armstrong to walk on the surface of the Moon.
Experienced fighter pilot
Born on January 20, 1930 in Montclair New Jersey Buzz Aldrin’s full name is Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr. as he was the son of Edwin Eugene Aldrin, a US Air Force colonel.
Aldrin’s nickname “Buzz” originated during his childhood when Aldrin’s younger sister called him “Buzzer” instead because “brother” (older brother). It stuck with Aldrin so much that he officially adopted it to legally change it to his name in 1988.
In 1947 Aldrin graduated from Montclair High School in Montclair New Jersey where he was a straight A student and played football on the “undefeated” team in 1946.
He received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1951 from the US Military Academy West Point in New York and graduated third in his class.
Aldrin’s father wanted his son to attend a flight school so that he could follow in his footsteps and take charge of his own crew. But the future astronaut of Apollo 11 had other ideas.
According to History, he wanted to become a fighter pilot and participate in wars. Aldrin joined the US Air Force in 1951 when he scored near the top of his class and began his journey as a legendary pilot.
During his military career Aldrin flew 66 missions fought in Korea on F-86 Saber jets participating in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953.
After a ceasefire was declared on the Korean peninsula in September In July 1953, Aldrin returned to the United States to continue studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with the intention of becoming a test pilot.
Ten years later Aldrin received a doctorate in science in tourism. spaceflight from MIT. His 1963 thesis was titled “Guidelines for Manned Orbital Rendezvous”. It somewhat hints at his future efforts and achievements.
A promising start with NASA
1963 NASA selected Aldrin as part of a three-person team that will perform the historic spaceflight. There Aldrin’s role was to develop spacecraft docking and rendezvous techniques.
Aldrin also participated in underwater training tests to simulate events during zero-gravity flight.
November 1966 Aldrin first joined astronaut Jim Lovell on the Gemini 12 mission, the 10th and final manned flight of the Gemini program.
During the 4-day flight Aldrin performed 3 spacewalks for a total of 5 5 hours. This was a record at the time.
According to NASA, spacewalks were intended to prove that humans could operate in the vacuum of space.
After the Gemini 12 mission Aldrin was assigned to the Apollo 8 backup crew along with Armstrong. At that time, both astronauts did not know that just 3 years later they would make history instead of just sitting on the bench.
Apollo 11: Up The Moon and then back to Earth
May 25, 1961 US President John F. Kennedy caused a stir when he announced the historic Apollo 11 mission as a manned and orbital Moon landing. returned to Earth afterward.
The Apollo 11 crew included Neil Armstrong (mission commander), Buzz Aldrin (lunar module pilot) and Michael Collins (in charge of the experimental module). point).
Launched from Cape Kennedy (now Cape Canaveral) in Florida on July 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 spacecraft reached Earth orbit and then went on a journey through for 2 hours and 44 minutes after launch.
Three days later the crew reached lunar orbit. When all technical factors were favorable, Armstrong and Aldrin stepped onto the Apollo 11 landing module (Apollo Lunar Module Eagle) and began landing on the lunar surface.
At 22:56 EDT on July 21 (ie 9:56 on July 22 Vietnam time) Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the Moon in the presence of 650 million live TV viewers globally.</ p>
He declared: “That is one small step for a man but one giant leap for mankind.”
Buzz Aldrin took the photo joined Armstrong soon after. The two spent 2 5 hours exploring the Moon and collecting samples. According to NASA, Aldrin and Armstrong stayed on the lunar surface for a total of 21 hours and 36 minutes, including a 7-hour rest period.
Before returning to Earth, they left behind an American flag a cloth honoring the fallen Apollo 1 crew and a plaque reading:
“These were the men from planet Earth who first set foot on the Moon. July 1969 AD. We come for peace for all mankind.”
The Apollo crew of 3 landed safely off the coast of the Hawaiian Pacific Ocean on July 24 /1969 ended the historic mission.
Buzz Aldrin’s life after Apollo
After safely returning to Earth Aldrin was awarded Medal of Freedom from the US President and began a 45-day international goodwill tour.
In his memoir Aldrin compared his state of mind after returning to Earth. Land with his reaction when he first saw the lunar landscape.
Eventually the conflicts in his mind caused him to sink deeper into depression and alcoholism.
< p>I want to continue my mission but there is no mission to continue Aldrin says in the book. Without a goal without a calling meaning, there is no project worth pouring my heart and soul into.”
Aldrin was married four times. But all three of his children belonged to his first wife – Joan Archer (1930 – 2015).
Despite the fact that her husband accomplished many glorious victories, Mrs. Archer was always straightforward throughout her life. life about the pressures she faced as the wife of an astronaut and national hero. Aldrin and Archer eventually filed for divorce five years after the Apollo 11 mission in 1974.
In 1998 Aldrin founded the ShareSpace Foundation now known as the Aldrin Family Foundation. This is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the expansion of manned space exploration.
As a participant in humanity’s historic mission, Buzz Aldrin often appears on the news. media as an inspiration for young people and space science enthusiasts.
He once said: “Always remember that progress is not always linear You have to constantly adjust your direction and often zigzag.”
“Sometimes unfortunate things happen at any time. And failure is often very painful . But that doesn’t mean we give up.”
“
