Buzz AldrinOn Saturday, Buzz Aldrin became the first astronaut to accept an Emmy award.
He was also the second person to set foot on the moon. On July 20, 1969, Aldrin, along with Neil Armstrong, spent 21 hours on the lunar surface while some 600 million people watched from Earth. He later had an asteroid and a crater named after him.
Since retiring from the Air Force and NASA, Aldrin designed the Aldrin Mars Cycler, a “subway in the sky,” and received three patents, including one for multi-crew space modules. He founded Starcraft Boosters, Inc., a rocket design company, and the nonprofit ShareSpace Foundation, devoted to space education programs and advocacy.
In addition to several children’s books and other works of fiction and non-fiction, he recently published his autobiography, Magnificent Desolation. And he has recorded a rap single, “Rocket Experience,” with Snoop Dogg.
Before working for NASA, Aldrin received a Distinguished Flying Cross from the Air Force and earned a doctorate in astronautics at MIT. His mother’s maiden name was … yes: Moon. How aptonymic of her.
Aldrin has agreed to take your questions — about NASA, walking on the moon, the value to society of space exploration, or anything else you can conjure — so ask away in the comments section below. As with all Q&A’s, we will post his answers here in a few days.
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What factors did NASA consider to be most important when selecting astronauts for the Apollo program? What factors would you consider most important when selecting people to make policy about future space programs? In your experience, do astronauts make good policy makers?
Respectfully,
Charlie Wood
To me, you do not look like a person who would listen to the rap genre of music. What led you to record the single “Rocket Experience” with Snoop Dogg?
I would be interesting to know how Buzz feels about being the lunar astronaut who has perhaps cultivated the most publicity from his past exploits (in stark contrast to fellow moonwalker Neill Armstrong). Does he do it for the fun, the money (not that there’s anything wrong with that) or some sense of duty seeing as how Armstrong has chosen to be so private and “somebody” needs to get out and stump for space exploration.
Buzz, you’ve cowritten several books that describe a future where space exploration is not only commonplace but profitable. Do you see anyone out there today among the big name – or small name – industrialists who could make space exploration profitable in a serious way (minerals, energy, etc., not just tourism), or is it too far in the future at this point? What industry do you think it will be in?
Do you think aliens exist, and if so, have they visited us?
Should we only send robots to space?
How did it feel to punch the guy who thought you didn’t go on the moon?
Was it a mistake to send John Glenn back into space?
What do you think of a lunar space base?
What do you think of a martian space base?
What do you think of the possibility of Martian Terraformation?
If you’d had a spacecraft that could take you anywhere in the universe instantaneously, where would you have gone other than the Moon back in 1969?
Would your preferred destination have changed due to any new knowledge about the universe we have in 2009?
Buzz, When will get to Mars.
You have suggested that a trip to Mars should be a one way trip, for pioneers who would set up a colony. From a technical point of view I agree, however I feel society may not be ready for this.
Would you have signed up for such a trip? Have you spoken to others who would?
Many of the pioneers were in a situation where to NOT leave had a high risk of death. What reasons do you think people would have to sign on to a one way trip to Mars, and which of those would you consider to be good reasons?