The Air Force and Space Systems Command celebrated the 93-year-old explorer on Friday, May 5.
Aldrin, 93, was the lunar module pilot on the 1969 Apollo 11 spaceflight, during which he and the late Neil Armstrong — the flight’s commander — became the first humans to walk on the moon.Aldrin’s first spaceflight was in 1966 aboard the Gemini 12. Before becoming an astronaut, the New Jersey native served as a combat-ready fighter pilot with the Air Force from 1952 to 1959 after graduating from U.S. Military Academy West Point.
His fascination with air exploration made him an eager pilot in the Air Force — one who yearned to take his flight to the next level as an astronaut. He applied for astronaut training in 1962, and again the following year, when he was accepted, sending, unknowingly at the time, on his way to the moon.
And Aldrin’s patriotism didn’t end after the moon landing, Guetlein added; he’s been an advocate for space exploration ever since. After Aldrin reaffirmed his oath during the ceremony, his wife, Anca Faur, removed the eagle-shaped colonel pins from his shoulders and replaced them with star pins — one for each shoulder — signifying his promotion to brigadier general.
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