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Buzz Aldrin Turns 85: A Look Back at a Remarkable Life

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Read More: 45 Years Later: 5 GIFs of NASA’s First Moon Landing

Edwin Eugene Aldrin, Jr. was born on Jan. 20, 1930 in Glen Ridge, N.J.
Edwin Eugene Aldrin, Jr. was born on Jan. 20, 1930 in Glen Ridge, N.J.Courtesy of Buzz Aldrin
As children, Aldrin's little sister mispronounced the word 'brother' as 'buzzer'. The nickname stuck, and his family shortened it to Buzz. Aldrin would later have his name legally changed to Buzz in 1988.
As a child, Aldrin's little sister mispronounced the word 'brother' as 'buzzer'. The nickname stuck, and the Aldrin family shortened it to Buzz. Aldrin would later have his name legally changed to Buzz in 1988.Courtesy of Buzz Aldrin
Aldrin played center for Montclair High School's football team which went undefeated in 1946.
Aldrin played center for Montclair High School's football team which went undefeated in 1946.Courtesy of Buzz Aldrin
Aldrin attended college at West Point, graduating third in his class in 1951.
Aldrin attended college at West Point, graduating third in his class in 1951.Courtesy of Buzz Aldrin
Aldrin married his first wife, Joan Archer on Dec. 29, 1954.
The first Aldrin nuptials wouldn't be the last. Aldrin married Joan Archer on Dec. 29, 1954. He would go on to marry two more times, to Beverly Van Zile in 1975 and Lois Driggs Cannon in 1988.Courtesy of Buzz Aldrin
In 1951, Aldrin joined the U.S. Air Force as a Second Lieutenant. He would go on to fly F-86 Sabre Jets in 66 combat missions during Korean War.
In 1951, Aldrin joined the U.S. Air Force as a Second Lieutenant. He would go on to fly F-86 Sabre Jets in 66 combat missions during Korean War.Courtesy of Buzz Aldrin
Aldrin left the Air Force to earn a Ph.D. in aeronautics and astronautics at MIT. Post-graduation in October of 1963, he was chosen by NASA to be part of the third group of astronauts who would pioneer space flight.
Aldrin left the Air Force to earn a Ph.D. in aeronautics and astronautics at MIT. Post-graduation in October of 1963, he was chosen by NASA to be part of the third group of astronauts who would pioneer space flight.Courtesy of Buzz Aldrin
American astronauts Buzz Aldrin (in blue) Charles Bassett (top, in blue), and Theodore Freeman ( in orange) experience weightlessness in a reduced gravity aircraft as part of their NASA mission training in 1964.
As part of their NASA mission training for Gemini 12 Aldrin along with fellow astronauts Charles Bassett and Theodore Freeman trained underwater and in weightless environments to simulate space conditions. Ralph Morse—The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Buzz Aldrin, Edwin Eugene Aldrin Jr.
During the Gemini 12 expedition Aldrin spent two hours and 20 minutes outside of the spacecraft completing maintenance tasks and demonstrating the feasibility of extravehicular activity in space. here he is seen during mission training.AP
There were three spacewalks completed during the Gemini 12 mission along with various scientific experiments, including a test to see how a frog egg grows in zero gravity environment. Here Aldrin explains a docking maneuver to the media.Courtesy of Buzz Aldrin
Gemini 12 astronaut Buzz Aldrin snaps a picture of himself during a spacewalk in November 1966. Credit: NASA
Buzz Aldrin claims to have taken the first 'space selfie' during a spacewalk in Nov. 1966. However, a few months earlier in July 1966 during the Gemini 10 mission Astronaut Michael Collins also snapped a selfie, however he was inside of the space capsule. NASA
Gemini 12 splashed down in the in the western Atlantic Ocean on Nov. 15, 1966, 4.8 kilometers from its original target. Aldrin and mission commander Jim Lovell addressed the media and crew on the deck of the recovery ship.Courtesy of Buzz Aldrin
Aldrin
Aldrin has two sons and one daughter. A few days after his return to Earth from Gemini 12, he was reunited with his family at the Space Center in Houston on Nov. 19, 1966. AP
Buzz Pole Vaults
One of Aldrin's many interests is pole vaulting, and he even had a practice pit in his backyard in Houston.Lee Balterman—The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
Aldrin was selected as one of three astronauts on Apollo 11 and became the 2nd man to step foot on the moon in 1969. This mission effectively ended the Space Race and fulfilled a national goal proposed in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy. A rehearsal moonscape was built in Houston so Armstrong and Aldrin could practice their various lunar tasks. Courtesy of Buzz Aldrin
The Apollo 11 mission consisted of Commander Neil Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins and Lunar Module Pilot, Buzz Aldrin. All three of the crew members had been on a previous space flight, making this only the 2nd all-veteran crew in spaceflight history.Courtesy of Buzz Aldrin
In case one of the astronauts fell sick there were designated back-ups who would carry out the mission in their place if necessary. Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, Deke Slayton, and Buzz are sen here at the prelaunch breakfast along with back-up crew-member Bill Anders.Courtesy of Buzz Aldrin
the apollo 11 crew walks to the van to take them to the launch pad (CK)
Apollo 11 was launched by a Saturn V rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, Fla. on July 16, 1969 where it became the fifth manned mission of NASA's Apollo program.Courtesy of Buzz Aldrin
Buzz Aldrin
"One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" were the first words spoken on the moon by Neil Armstrong who can be seen in the reflection of Aldrin's helmet. There are actually no good photos of Armstrong while on the moon because he was the one holding the camera most of the time. Neil Armstrong—AP
Buzz Aldrin on board the Lunar Module during the Apollo 11 lunar landing missionon July 20, 1969.
Aldrin, who was at the time an elder at the Webster Presbyterian Church in Webster, Texas, privately took communion while on the moon. Aldrin wrote about the experience in Guideposts magazine stating "It was interesting to think that the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the first food eaten there, were communion elements."Getty Images
Space Exploration. Apollo 11. pic: circa 25th July 1969. U.S. President Richard Nixon applauds the Apollo 11 astronauts, l-r, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin who are confined in the quarantine trailer. Apollo 11 with it's crew Neil Armstro
The crew successfully splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on July 24, 1969. Upon their return to earth they were put under mandatory quarantine in case they had contracted pathogens from the lunar surface. Getty Images
Buzz Aldrin
Aldrin and his Apollo 11 crew-mates were greeted with a hero's welcome and rode in parades in their honor in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.Fred Bunch—AP
Buzz Aldrin with Muhammad Ali and Arnold Schwarzenegger.Courtesy of Buzz Aldrin
The Apollo 11 crew met President Ronald Reagan in 1984 on the 15th anniversary of their lunar landing. Courtesy of Buzz Aldrin
Buzz Aldrin met President Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea Clinton at an informal event.Courtesy of Buzz Aldrin
Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, speaks to a reporter in front of the Saturn 5 Aft End, the F-1 rocket engines of the first stage of the Apollo 11/Saturn 5 launch vehicle, Tuesday, July 20, 2004, in Washington. The first moon landing marks its 35th year anniversary. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Aldrin has authored and co-authored numerous books, including his latest, titled 'Mission to Mars,' which was published in May of 2013.Manuel Balce Ceneta—AP
This Oct. 2, 2009 picture provided by Disney shows Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin at the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. with the 12-inch-tall Buzz Lightyear toy that spent 15 months in space onboard the International Space Station (ISS). (AP Photo/Disney, Garth Vaughan)
Buzz Aldrin's name was used as the inspiration for the 'Toy Story' character Buzz Lightyear. He says he has never received any endorsement fees or royalties for use of his name. Garth Vaughan—AP
One of Aldrin's lifelong interests is underwater exploration and scuba diving. It is the "closest thing to weightlessness in space" Aldrin has said. Here he is seen htching a ride on a whale shark in the Galapagos Islands in June 2010.Andy Aldrin—Courtesy of Buzz Aldrin
Buzz Aldrin,  Barack Obama
In 2009, President Barack Obama signed legislation conferring the Congressional Gold Medal upon Aldrin and his Apollo 11 crew-mates, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins.Luis M. Alvarez—AP
10th Steiger Awards in Hattingen
Throughout his life Aldrin has been presented with many awards and achievements. Here he is seen accepting the "Lifetime Achievement" at the 10th Steiger Awards in Hattingen, Germany, on Oct. 3, 2014.Henning Kaiser—dpa/Corbis
Astronaut Visit
Aldrin frequently speaks to students about his experiences as an astronaut. He is seen here taking to students from the Madison and Orange Boys and Girls Clubs on Nov. 7, 2014, in Culpeper, Va.Peter Cihelka—AP

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