Is Buzz Aldrin Still Alive? All about the Man Who Walked on the Moon
by A Maria
Updated May 11, 2023
Who is Buzz Aldrin?
Buzz Aldrin, born on January 20, 1930, is a former American astronaut, engineer, and fighter pilot. He is famous for his involvement in the Gemini 12 and Apollo 11 missions, where he piloted the Lunar Module Eagle and became one of the first two people to land on the Moon, along with mission commander Neil Armstrong.
Aldrin graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1951, ranking third in his class with a degree in mechanical engineering. After graduation, he joined the United States Air Force, where he served as a jet fighter pilot during the Korean War and completed 66 combat missions, successfully shooting down two MiG-15 aircraft.
Is Buzz Aldrin Still Alive?
Buzz Aldrin is still alive. He is 93 years old. Buzz Aldrin, the second man to ever step on the moon, has revealed that he got married to his longtime partner, Dr. Anca Faur, on his 93rd birthday. The former astronaut celebrated his birthday on Friday and announced on Twitter that he "tied the knot" with Faur, who is 63 years old. He shared two pictures from the wedding on his Twitter account and said that the couple was as "excited as eloping teenagers" during the small ceremony held in Los Angeles.
Faur has been working as the executive vice president of Buzz Aldrin Ventures since 2019. Aldrin, who retired from NASA in 1971, served as the Lunar Module pilot for the Apollo 11 mission and was the second person to walk on the moon.
What Year Did Buzz Aldrin Walk on the Moon?
During the historic Apollo 11 mission on July 20, 1969, Buzz Aldrin served as the Lunar Module pilot and called out critical information to mission commander Neil Armstrong as they approached the lunar surface. Aldrin relayed their speed in feet per second and distances in feet as Armstrong expertly piloted the Eagle to its final destination on the Moon, where they famously established Tranquility Base. Aldrin's precise and timely communication was essential to the success of the mission and the safe landing of the spacecraft.
Is Buzz Aldrin Married?
Former US astronaut Buzz Aldrin celebrated his 93rd birthday by getting married for the fourth time. Aldrin was one of the pilots of the historic Apollo 11 spaceflight in 1969 and was one of the first two people to walk on the moon, alongside the mission's commander, Neil Armstrong. Aldrin said that he and his new wife, Anca Faur, were as "excited as eloping teenagers."
Faur is the executive vice president of Aldrin's company, Buzz Aldrin Ventures, and holds a Ph.D. in chemical engineering. Aldrin tweeted the announcement of their marriage, which coincided with his being honored as a Living Legend of Aviation. Aldrin is one of only four people still alive to have walked on the moon.
How Old is Buzz Aldrin?
Buzz Aldrin is 93 years old. Buzz Aldrin initially applied to join NASA's Astronaut Group 2 in 1962 but was rejected because he was not a test pilot. Although Aldrin had requested a waiver, his application was still denied. However, on May 15, 1963, NASA announced a new selection round, with the requirement that applicants had either test pilot experience or 1,000 hours of flying time in jet aircraft.
With over 2,500 hours of flying time, 2,200 of which were in jets, Aldrin was selected as one of the fourteen members of NASA's Astronaut Group 3 on October 18, 1963. Aldrin became the first astronaut with a doctoral degree and was an expert in orbital mechanics, which earned him the nickname "Dr. Rendezvous" from his fellow astronauts.
Although Aldrin was the most educated rendezvous expert in the astronaut corps, he knew that the nickname was not always given as a compliment. After completing initial training, Aldrin was assigned a field of expertise, which included mission planning, trajectory analysis, and flight plans.
Buzz Aldrin Wife
Buzz Aldrin married Joan Ann Archer (m. 1954; div. 1974), Beverly Van Zile (m. 1975; div. 1978), Lois Driggs Cannon (m. 1988; div. 2012) and Anca V. Faur (m. 2023). Buzz Aldrin is a former American astronaut, engineer, and fighter pilot who has a net worth of $12 million. He is well-known for being one of the first two people to walk on the Moon, along with Neil Armstrong, during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969.
Prior to this historic achievement, he flew numerous combat missions in the Korean War and made three spacewalks as the pilot of the Gemini 12 mission in 1966. After retiring from NASA in 1971, Aldrin went on to become the Commandant of the US Air Force Test Pilot School.
Buzz Aldrin Bio
Name
Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr.
DOB
January 20, 1930
Age
93
Place of birth
Glen Ridge, New Jersey, U.S.
Status
Retired
Other names
Dr. Rendezvous
Alma mater
Occupations
Awards
Rank
Brigadier general, USAF
Selection
NASA Astronaut Group 3
Missions
Retirement
July 1, 1971
Spouses
Children
3
SPECIFICATIONS
DETAILS
Is Buzz Aldrin Still Alive - FAQs
Buzz Aldrin is a former American astronaut, engineer, and fighter pilot. He is best known for his participation in the Gemini 12 and Apollo 11 missions, during which he piloted the Lunar Module Eagle and became one of the first two people to land on the Moon.
Before becoming an astronaut, Aldrin graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1951 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He then joined the United States Air Force, where he served as a jet fighter pilot during the Korean War and completed 66 combat missions, successfully shooting down two MiG-15 aircraft.
Buzz Aldrin is most famous for being one of the first two people to land on the Moon as part of the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. He piloted the Lunar Module Eagle and, along with mission commander Neil Armstrong, made history by stepping onto the Moon's surface.
In addition to the Apollo 11 mission, Buzz Aldrin was also a part of the Gemini 12 mission in 1966. During this mission, he completed three spacewalks and set a record for extravehicular activity.
Buzz Aldrin graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1951 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He went on to earn a Doctor of Science degree in Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1963.