Buzz Aldrin

Buzz Aldrin, born Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr. on January 20, 1930, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, is an American astronaut and engineer. He is best known for piloting the Lunar Module during the Apollo 11 mission and becoming one of the first two humans to walk on the moon on July 20, 1969. Aldrin graduated third in his class from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1951, and earned a Sc.D. in astronautics from MIT in 1963. Aldrin flew combat missions during the Korean War, where he shot down two MiG-15 aircraft. His innovative work on orbital docking and rendezvous techniques significantly advanced the United States' space capabilities. After leaving NASA, Aldrin continued to promote space exploration and authored several books, including "Magnificent Desolation" and "Mission to Mars."