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 Apollo 11 mission in 1969. Prior to this, he piloted the Gemini 12 mission in 1966, undertaking three spacewalks. Aldrin is the last surviving member of the Apollo 11 crew, following the deaths of Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins. His contributions to space exploration have cemented his place as a pivotal figure in the history of space travel.
1947: Air Force Becomes a Separate Service
In 1947, the United States Air Force became a separate service while Aldrin was at West Point.
June 5, 1951: Graduation from West Point
On June 5, 1951, Aldrin graduated third in the class of 1951 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.
December 1952: Assignment to 16th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
In December 1952, Aldrin was assigned to the 16th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, which was part of the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing, based in Suwon Air Base, Korea, during the Korean War.
May 14, 1953: First MiG-15 Shot Down
On May 14, 1953, 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, Aldrin achieved his second aerial victory by shooting down another MiG during an attack on an airbase in North Korea.
June 8, 1953: Life Magazine Feature
On June 8, 1953, Life magazine featured gun camera footage taken by Aldrin of a pilot ejecting from his damaged aircraft.
December 1953: End of Korean Tour
In December 1953, Aldrin's year-long tour in Korea ended, and he was assigned as an aerial gunnery instructor at Nellis Air Force Base.
December 1954: Aide-de-Camp Assignment
In December 1954, Aldrin became an aide-de-camp to Brigadier General Don Z. Zimmerman at the United States Air Force Academy.
1955: Graduation from Squadron Officer School
In 1955, Aldrin graduated from the Squadron Officer School at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.
1956: F-100 Super Sabre Flight Commander
From 1956, Aldrin flew F-100 Super Sabres equipped with nuclear weapons as a flight commander in West Germany.
1959: F-100 Super Sabre Flight Commander
Until 1959, Aldrin flew F-100 Super Sabres equipped with nuclear weapons as a flight commander in West Germany.
1962: Initial Application to Astronaut Corps Rejected
In 1962, Aldrin initially applied to join the astronaut corps but was rejected because he was not a test pilot.
January 1963: Earned Sc.D. Degree
In January 1963, Aldrin earned a Sc.D. degree in astronautics from MIT.
May 15, 1963: NASA Announced Another Round of Selections
On May 15, 1963, NASA announced another round of selections for astronauts, this time requiring 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 was selected as one of the fourteen members of NASA's Astronaut Group 3, 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 the prime crew for Gemini 12.
November 11, 1966: Launch of Gemini 12
On November 11, 1966, Gemini 12 was launched from Cape Canaveral. Aldrin used a sextant and rendezvous charts he helped create to dock with the target vehicle.
November 12, 1966: Solar Eclipse Viewing
On November 12, 1966, Aldrin and Lovell viewed and photographed the solar eclipse over South America from the Gemini 12 spacecraft windows.
1966: First Space Flight on Gemini 12
In 1966, Aldrin had his first space flight on Gemini 12, where he spent over five hours on extravehicular activity.
1966: Gemini 12 mission
In 1966, Aldrin was the pilot of the Gemini 12 mission. During this mission, he conducted three spacewalks.
1966: NASA Exceptional Service Medal
In 1966, during a ceremony marking the end of the Gemini program, Buzz Aldrin was awarded the NASA Exceptional Service Medal by President Johnson.
November 20, 1967: Assigned to Apollo 9 Backup Crew
On November 20, 1967, Lovell and Aldrin were assigned to an Apollo crew with Neil Armstrong as commander. They were announced as the backup crew of Apollo 9.
July 16, 1969: Apollo 11 Launch
On July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, watched by an estimated one million spectators. The launch was televised live to millions of viewers and listeners worldwide. The Saturn V rocket propelled Apollo 11 into Earth orbit, and later onto a trajectory toward the Moon.
July 21, 1969: Walking on the Moon
On July 21, 1969, Aldrin set foot on the Moon at 03:15:16 UTC, nineteen minutes after Armstrong. He also became the first person to hold a religious ceremony on the Moon by privately taking communion.
September 16, 1969: Address to Congress
On September 16, 1969, Buzz Aldrin and the other Apollo 11 astronauts addressed a joint session of Congress to thank them for their past support and to encourage continued funding for the space program.
1969: Apollo 11 mission
In 1969, Aldrin was the Lunar Module Eagle pilot on the Apollo 11 mission. He became the second person to walk on the Moon.
1969: Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
In 1969, Buzz Aldrin was awarded the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) for his role as lunar module pilot on Apollo 11.
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 and the General Thomas D. White USAF Space Trophy for their achievements in spaceflight.
October 1970: Tour of NASA Space Centers
In October 1970, after the Apollo 11 mission, Buzz Aldrin joined Soviet cosmonauts Andriyan Nikolayev and Vitaly Sevastyanov on a tour of the NASA space centers.
1970: NASA Distinguished Service Medal
In 1970, Buzz Aldrin was awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal for the Apollo 11 mission.
1970: Apollo 11 Crew Awarded Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy, Harmon Trophy, and Hubbard Medal
In 1970, the Apollo 11 crew was awarded the Dr. Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy, the Harmon Trophy, and the Hubbard Medal, recognizing their significant contributions to space exploration and aviation.
July 1, 1971: Return to the Air Force
On July 1, 1971, with the Apollo program coming to an end and with limited prospects at NASA, Buzz Aldrin, then a colonel, decided to return to the Air Force.
1971: Leaving NASA
After leaving NASA in 1971, Aldrin became Commandant of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School.
1971: Apollo 11 Crew Conferred the Harmon Trophy
In 1971, Vice President Spiro Agnew conferred the international Harmon Trophy for aviators to the Apollo 11 crew, celebrating their accomplishments in aviation and space travel.
February 1972: USAF Test Pilot School Renamed
In February 1972, General George S. Brown informed Buzz Aldrin that the USAF Aerospace Research Pilot School was being renamed the USAF Test Pilot School, with astronaut training being dropped.
March 1, 1972: Retirement from the Air Force
On March 1, 1972, Buzz Aldrin retired from the Air Force as a colonel after 21 years of service. His father and General Jimmy Doolittle attended the retirement ceremony.
1972: Retirement from the Air Force
In 1972, Aldrin retired from the Air Force after 21 years of service.
1972: Oak Leaf Cluster Award
In 1972, Buzz Aldrin was awarded an oak leaf cluster in lieu of a second DSM for his role in both the Korean War and in the space program.
1982: Induction into International Space Hall of Fame
In 1982, Buzz Aldrin was one of ten Gemini astronauts inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame.
1985: Joined University of North Dakota
In 1985, Buzz Aldrin joined the University of North Dakota (UND)'s College of Aerospace Sciences and helped develop UND's Space Studies program.
1985: Proposed Aldrin Cycler
In 1985, Buzz Aldrin proposed a special spacecraft trajectory known as the Aldrin cycler, which offered reduced cost of repeated travel to Mars.
1993: Induction into U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame
In 1993, Buzz Aldrin was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.
1996: Founded Starcraft Boosters, Inc.
In 1996, Buzz Aldrin founded Starcraft Boosters, Inc. (SBI) to design reusable rocket launchers.
1999: Smithsonian Institution's Langley Gold Medal
In 1999, while celebrating the 30th anniversary of the lunar landing, the Apollo 11 crew was presented with the Smithsonian Institution's Langley Gold Medal for aviation by Vice President Al Gore.
2000: Induction into National Aviation Hall of Fame
In 2000, Buzz Aldrin was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame.
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 the Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry.
2006: Aldrin Awarded General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award
In 2006, Aldrin was awarded the Space Foundation's General James E. Hill Lifetime Space Achievement Award, their highest honor.
2008: Induction into New Jersey Hall of Fame
In 2008, Buzz Aldrin was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
2011: New Frontier Congressional Gold Medal
In 2011, the Apollo 11 crew was awarded the New Frontier Congressional Gold Medal in the Capitol Rotunda.
June 2013: Support for Human Mission to Mars
In June 2013, Buzz Aldrin published an opinion piece in The New York Times supporting a human mission to Mars and suggesting the Moon should be a point of departure for Mars.
2015: Aldrin Named Chancellor of the International Space University
In 2015, Aldrin was named as the Chancellor of the International Space University.
