Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Buzz Aldrin

From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Buzz Aldrin made an impact.

Buzz Aldrin is an American former astronaut, engineer, and fighter pilot, most famously known as the second person to walk on the Moon during the 1969 Apollo 11 mission. He also piloted the 1966 Gemini 12 mission, undertaking three spacewalks. Following the deaths of his crewmates, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins, Aldrin is the last surviving member of the Apollo 11 crew.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

June 5, 1951: Graduation from West Point

On June 5, 1951, Aldrin graduated third in his class from West Point with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering.

1951: Graduation from West Point

In 1951, Aldrin graduated third in his class from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a degree in mechanical engineering and was commissioned into the United States Air Force.

December 1952: Assignment to 16th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron

In December 1952, Aldrin was assigned to the 16th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, part of the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing, based at Suwon Air Base in Korea, during the Korean War.

May 14, 1953: First Aerial Victory

On May 14, 1953, Buzz Aldrin shot down his first MiG-15 fighter while flying south of the Yalu River during the Korean War.

June 4, 1953: Second Aerial Victory

On June 4, 1953, Buzz Aldrin achieved his second aerial victory, shooting down another MiG during an attack on an airbase in North Korea. Aldrin saw the MiG's canopy open and the pilot eject, although Aldrin was uncertain whether there was sufficient time for a parachute to open.

June 8, 1953: Gun Camera Footage in Life Magazine

The June 8, 1953, issue of Life magazine featured gun camera footage taken by Aldrin of a pilot ejecting from his damaged aircraft.

December 1953: End of Korean War Tour

In December 1953, Aldrin's year-long tour in the Korean War ended, after which he was assigned as an aerial gunnery instructor at Nellis Air Force Base.

December 1954: Aide-de-Camp

In December 1954, Aldrin became an aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Don Z. Zimmerman, the Dean of Faculty at the United States Air Force Academy.

1955: Graduation from Squadron Officer School

In 1955, Buzz Aldrin graduated from the Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.

1956: Flew F-100 Super Sabres

From 1956 to 1959, Aldrin flew F-100 Super Sabres equipped with nuclear weapons as a flight commander in West Germany.

1959: Flew F-100 Super Sabres

From 1956 to 1959, Aldrin flew F-100 Super Sabres equipped with nuclear weapons as a flight commander in West Germany.

January 1963: Earned Doctorate in Astronautics

In January 1963, Aldrin earned a Sc.D. degree in astronautics from MIT. His doctoral thesis was Line-of-Sight Guidance Techniques for Manned Orbital Rendezvous.

May 15, 1963: NASA Announced Selections

On May 15, 1963, NASA announced another round of selections. The requirements were either test pilot experience or 1,000 hours of flying time in jet aircraft.

October 18, 1963: Selection as NASA Astronaut

On October 18, 1963, Aldrin's selection as one of fourteen members of NASA's Astronaut Group 3 was announced, making him the first astronaut with a doctoral degree.

June 17, 1966: Designated Prime Crew for Gemini 12

On June 17, 1966, Aldrin and Lovell were designated as the prime crew for Gemini 12.

November 11, 1966: Launch of Gemini 12

On November 11, 1966, Gemini 12 was launched from Cape Canaveral. Radar contact deteriorated, forcing a manual rendezvous guided by Aldrin's sextant skills.

November 12, 1966: Solar Eclipse

On November 12, 1966, Aldrin and Lovell viewed and photographed the solar eclipse over South America through the Gemini 12 spacecraft windows after the Agena's main engine was deemed too risky to fire.

1966: First Space Flight

In 1966, Buzz Aldrin had his first space flight on Gemini 12, during which he spent over five hours on extravehicular activity.

November 20, 1967: Assignment to Apollo 9 backup crew announced

On November 20, 1967, Lovell and Aldrin were assigned as the backup crew for Apollo 9, with Neil Armstrong as commander, Lovell as command module pilot (CMP), and Aldrin as lunar module pilot (LMP).

July 16, 1969: Launch of Apollo 11

On July 16, 1969, Apollo 11, propelled by a Saturn V rocket, launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, with an estimated one million spectators and millions more watching on television and listening to radio broadcasts. The spacecraft entered Earth orbit twelve minutes after liftoff and, after one and a half orbits, began its trajectory toward the Moon.

July 21, 1969: Walking on the Moon

On July 21, 1969, at 03:15:16 UTC, Buzz Aldrin became the second person to set foot on the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission, nineteen minutes after Neil Armstrong. During the mission, Aldrin, a Presbyterian elder, took communion on the Moon, which was the first food and liquid consumed there.

September 16, 1969: Astronauts address Congress

On September 16, 1969, the Apollo 11 astronauts addressed a joint session of Congress to thank them for their support and urge continued funding for space exploration.

November 5, 1969: Return to the US

On November 5, 1969, the Apollo 11 crew returned to the US after a 38-day world tour that took them to 22 foreign countries.

1969: Apollo 11 Crew Awarded Collier Trophy and General Thomas D. White USAF Space Trophy

In 1969, the Apollo 11 crew received the Collier Trophy. In a separate ceremony the National Aeronautic Association president awarded a duplicate trophy to Collins and Aldrin. The crew was also awarded the 1969 General Thomas D. White USAF Space Trophy.

October 1970: Tour of NASA space centers

In October 1970, Aldrin joined Soviet cosmonauts Andriyan Nikolayev and Vitaly Sevastyanov on their tour of the NASA space centers.

1970: Apollo 11 Crew Wins Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy, Harmon Trophy, Hubbard Medal and Iven C. Kincheloe award

In 1970, the Apollo 11 crew received multiple awards. They won the Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy from the National Space Club, the international Harmon Trophy conferred to them by Vice President Spiro Agnew in 1971, and the Hubbard Medal of the National Geographic Society presented by Spiro Agnew. The Apollo 11 team were also co-winners of the Iven C. Kincheloe award from the Society of Experimental Test Pilots along with Darryl Greenamyer. For contributions to the television industry, they were honored with round plaques on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

July 1, 1971: Aldrin returns to the Air Force

With the Apollo program winding down, Aldrin returned to the Air Force on July 1, 1971, after spending 289 hours and 53 minutes in space during his NASA career.

1971: Leaving NASA

In 1971, Aldrin left NASA and became the Commandant of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School.

1971: Apollo 11 Crew Receives Harmon Trophy

In 1971, Vice President Spiro Agnew conferred the international Harmon Trophy to the Apollo 11 crew.

February 1972: Visit from General Brown

In February 1972, General George S. Brown visited Edwards and informed Aldrin that the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School was being renamed, and astronaut training was being dropped.

March 1, 1972: Aldrin retires from the Air Force

On March 1, 1972, Aldrin retired from the Air Force as a colonel after 21 years of service, with his father and General Jimmy Doolittle in attendance.

1972: Retirement from the Air Force

In 1972, Aldrin retired from the Air Force after 21 years of service.

1985: Joins University of North Dakota

In 1985, Aldrin joined the University of North Dakota (UND)'s College of Aerospace Sciences, helping to develop their Space Studies program.

1985: Aldrin cycler trajectory proposed

In 1985, Aldrin proposed a special spacecraft trajectory known as the Aldrin cycler, which offers reduced cost of repeated travel to Mars.

1996: Starcraft Boosters, Inc. founded

In 1996, Aldrin founded Starcraft Boosters, Inc. (SBI) to design reusable rocket launchers.

1999: Apollo 11 Crew Receives Smithsonian Institution's Langley Gold Medal

In 1999, during the 30th anniversary celebration of the lunar landing, the Apollo 11 crew received the Smithsonian Institution's Langley Gold Medal for aviation, presented by Vice President Al Gore. Following the ceremony, the crew presented President Bill Clinton with an encased Moon rock at the White House.

2001: Aldrin Appointed to Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry

In 2001, Aldrin was appointed by President George W. Bush to serve on the Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry.

2003: Aldrin Receives Humanitarian Award from Variety, the Children's Charity

In 2003, Aldrin was honored with the Humanitarian Award from Variety, the Children's Charity, in recognition of his exceptional understanding, empathy, and devotion to mankind.

2006: Aldrin Receives General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award

In 2006, Aldrin was awarded the General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award, the Space Foundation's highest honor.

2011: Apollo 11 Crew Awarded New Frontier Congressional Gold Medal

In 2011, the Apollo 11 crew was awarded the New Frontier Congressional Gold Medal in the Capitol Rotunda. During the ceremony, NASA administrator Charles Bolden acknowledged the crew's trailblazing impact on space exploration.

June 2013: Support for Mars mission

In a June 2013 opinion piece in The New York Times, Aldrin supported a human mission to Mars, viewing the Moon as a point of departure for establishing a two-planet species.

August 2015: Mars colony master plan presented

In August 2015, Aldrin, in association with the Florida Institute of Technology, presented a master plan to NASA for establishing a colony on Mars with a ten-year astronaut tour of duty before the year 2040.

2015: Aldrin Named Chancellor of the International Space University

In 2015, Aldrin was appointed as the Chancellor of the International Space University.

2019: Aldrin Awarded Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication

In 2019, Aldrin received the Starmus Festival's Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication for Lifetime Achievement.

May 5, 2023: Aldrin Receives Honorary Promotion to Brigadier General

On May 5, 2023, Aldrin was granted an honorary promotion to the rank of brigadier general in the United States Air Force, in addition to being named an honorary Space Force guardian.