8 Out-of-this-World Fun Facts About Buzz Aldrin: The Astronaut Who Danced on the Moon
1. Buzz's Million Dollar Jacket
For those eager to get a-piece-o'-suit with Apollo 11, hold onto your moon boots and wallets: Buzz Aldrin's historic in-flight jacket from the legendary mission is expected to fetch between $1 million and $2 million at an upcoming Sotheby's auction, making it the only garment from that mission available for private ownership.
Source => mentalfloss.com
2. Aldrin's Mars Dreams
When Buzz Aldrin isn't busy moonwalking into history or fighting off claims that he filmed his lunar vacation: Aldrin shares his space-age dreams in his book "Mission to Mars: My Vision for Space Exploration", where he envisions humans colonizing Mars by 2035, encourages focusing on Mars settlement, Lunar missions, and promoting international cooperation in space exploration.
Source => en.wikipedia.org
Did you know astronauts wear each pair of underwear for as long as possible to save space and weight on their missions? Discover the fiery fate of their dirty laundry!
=> Fun Facts about Astronauts
3. Moon Communion
When the moon's gravity just couldn't hold its wine: Buzz Aldrin became the first person to take communion on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission, complete with a chalice of gracefully floating wine and sacred scripture, all in honor of the numerous sacrifices made by the mission's team.
Source => en.wikipedia.org
4. Lost Lunar Watch
Houston, we have a... missing watch: Buzz Aldrin's Omega Speedmaster, the first trusty timepiece to moonwalk and cha-cha-cha with lunar dust, disappeared on its earthly mission to the Smithsonian Museum, and remains lost to this day - popping up in false alarms like a celestial game of 'Where's Waldo?'.
Source => countryandtownhouse.com
5. Hometown Hero Buzz
He may be pushing 90 now, but when he's not shooting for the stars, Buzz Aldrin likes to touch down in his hometown of Montclair, New Jersey, where the middle school is named after him - watch out, Riverdale kids!: Astronaut Buzz Aldrin battled depression and alcoholism after walking on the moon during the iconic Apollo 11 mission in 1969, yet he still champions space travel to Mars today, at the ripe age of 89.
Source => nj.com
6. Man of Many Talents
Whether he was the ultimate "Buzz" kill or a master of lunar skipping rock-paper-scissors, Buzz Aldrin managed to always skip to his own planetary beat: The famed astronaut was not only the second person to moonwalk during 1969's historic Apollo 11 mission, but also a Korean War fighter jet pilot with two MiG-15 aircraft victories, the brain behind the Aldrin cycler trajectory concept, and a pop culture icon with cameo appearances in "The Simpsons" and "Futurama."
Source => dancingwiththestars.fandom.com
7. Buzz's Nike Collaboration
Have you ever wanted to take a walk on the "lunar" side and come back with moon-souvenirs on your feet? Well, Buzz Aldrin had the same idea, and he took his moonwalking passion shoe-per seriously: Collaborating with Nike, the esteemed astronaut designed a special edition sneaker, showcasing his very own Apollo 11 photo, hand-drawn rocket schematics, and Mars orbits. The pièce de résistance? Aldrin's historic lunar footprint adorns the insole, making each step an astronomical statement for the wearer. Available at select retailers, it's the perfect way to make giant leaps with your sneaker game.
Source => buzzaldrin.com
8. Mother Moon's Premonition
Talk about a celestial inheritance, it was written in the stars for this lunar voyager – or rather, in his family tree: Buzz Aldrin's mother, Marion Gladys Moon, bore a maiden name that foreshadowed the astronaut's destiny, though it held no sway in his selection for the legendary space mission.
Source => snopes.com