Buzz Aldrin TOPICS: Astronauts Achievement/Peak Performance Technology Inspiration Celebrity FEE CATEGORY:* 50.0k to 75.0k TRAVELS FROM: California Video Profile Testimonials/Client List Request This Speaker

Buzz Aldrin: Profile

Buzz Aldrin was born in Montclair, New Jersey on January 20, 1930. His mother, Marion Moon, was the daughter of an Army Chaplain. His father, Edwin Eugene Aldrin, was an aviation pioneer, a student of rocket developer Robert Goddard, and an aide to the immortal General Billy Mitchell. Buzz was educated at West Point, graduating with honors in 1951 as number three in his class. After receiving his wings, he became a jet fighter pilot. He flew 66 combat missions in the Korean Conflict, shooting down two MIG-15s. Returning to his education, he earned his Doctorate in Astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Manned Space Rendezvous. The techniques he devised were used on all NASA missions, including the first space docking with the Russian Cosmonauts.

In October 1963, Buzz was selected by NASA as one of the early group of astronauts. In November 1966, he established a new record for Extra-Vehicular Activity in space during the Gemini XII orbital flight mission. He has logged 4,500 hours of flying time, 290 of which were in space, including 8 hours of Extra-Vehicular Activity. As Backup Command Module Pilot for Apollo VIII, man's first flight around the moon, Buzz significantly improved operational techniques for astronautical navigation star display. Then on July 20, 1969, Buzz and Neil Armstrong made their historic Apollo XI moon walk, becoming the first two humans to set foot on another world. This unprecedented heroic endeavor was witnessed by the largest worldwide television audience in history.

Upon Buzz's return from the moon, he embarked on a worldwide goodwill tour. He was presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor amongst the over 50 other distinguished awards and medals he has received from the United States and numerous foreign countries.

Since retiring from NASA, the Air Force, and his position as Commander of the Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, Dr. Aldrin has remained at the forefront of efforts to ensure a continued leading role for America in manned space exploration. To advance his lifelong commitment to venturing outward in space, Buzz has created a master plan of evolving missions for sustained exploration utilizing his concept, "The Cycler," a spacecraft system which makes perpetual orbits between Earth and Mars. In 1993, he received a patent for a permanent space station he designed.

Buzz has just completed a science fiction novel, Encounter with Tiber, an epic saga of exploration and discovery of the ultimate frontier of space published by Warner Books. He has also authored an autobiography, Return to Earth and a historical documentary, Men from Earth, describing his trip to the moon and his unique perspective on America's future in space.

Buzz participates in many space organizations worldwide, including chairmanship of the National Space Society, developing future space programs and space education. He has also endorsed two educational computer software products fro children.

On Valentine's Day 1988, Buzz married Lois Driggs Cannon of Phoenix, Arizona. She is a Stanford graduate and an active community leader in Southern California where they now reside. Their combined family is comprised of six grown children and one grandson. Their leisure time is spent exploring the deep sea world of scuba diving and skiing the mountain tops of Sun Valley, Idaho.

Now Buzz, as Starcraft Enterprises - the name of his private space endeavors - is lecturing and traveling throughout the world to pursue and discuss his and others' latest concepts and ideas for exploring the universe. He is a leading voice in charting the course of future space efforts from Planet Earth.

Program Topics

Reach for the Stars - Sharing memories and insights from his momentous walk on the moon and his illustrious career, Dr. Aldrin encourages audiences to “reach for the stars” in life’s endeavors.

Buzz Aldrin’s Vision for the Future - Dr. Aldrin takes audiences on a journey into the future with his vision of a space-faring world where "citizen explorers" take space tours beyond lower-earth orbit and the Aldrin "Mars Cycler" space ship makes frequent stops for astronaut explorers on Mars.

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