1 Footprints on the Moon Buzz Aldrin is one of the best-known American astronauts He was the second person to set foot on the moon Aldrin was also a member of the US Air Force USAF and a pioneer in spacecraft rendezvous methods Aldrin was in the third group of astronauts NASA selected During his career at NASA he spent 289 hours and 53 minutes in space He helped develop methods of working outside spacecraft while in space After his time at NASA Aldrin struggled with depression and alcoholism However he turned his life around and has become a famous public figure He has written several books including memoirs science fiction novels and children’s books Today Aldrin is a supporter of building a human settlement on Mars He has even patented plans for a spacecraft called the Aldrin Mars Cycler This spacecraft could be used in the future for travel to Mars No matter where Aldrin goes in the future his footprints will always remain on the moon 4
2 Born to Fly Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr was born on January 20 1930 in Montclair New Jersey He grew up there with his parents Edwin Sr and Marion and two older sisters Fay Ann and Maddy Edwin went by the nickname Buzz He got this name from his sister Fay Ann She pronounced brother as buzzer Buzz’s family shortened the name to Buzz Buzz’s early life was shaped by his parents and their ties to the US military His father was a colonel in the USAF His mother’s father was a chaplain in the US Army Air Corps Buzz became interested in aviation at an early age He went on his first flight at the age of two He flew in a small plane piloted by his father The plane was called the Eagle This was the same name as the spacecraft Buzz landed on the moon many years later Buzz loved his first plane ride and couldn’t wait to fly again STELLAR In 1988 Aldrin legally changed his first name to Buzz 6
As an adult Aldrin left had a troubled relationship with his father Edwin Sr right
