They Shot for the Moon

Aldrin was one of the third group of astronauts named by NASA in October 1963.

On November 11, 1966, he and command pilot James Lovell were launched into space in the Gemini XII spacecraft on a four-day flight which brought the Gemini program to a successful close.  Aldrin established a new record for extravehicular activity (EVA), spending 5-1/2 hours outside the spacecraft.

He served as lunar module pilot for Apollo XI, July 16-24, 1969, the first manned lunar landing mission.  Aldrin followed Neil Armstrong onto the lunar surface on July 20, 1969, completing a 2 hour and 15 minute lunar EVA.

In July 1971, Aldrin resigned from NASA. Aldrin has logged 289 hours and 53 minutes in space, of which 7 hours and 52 minutes was spent in EVA.

Since retiring from NASA, the Air Force, and his position as commander of the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base in 1972, he authored an autobiography, RETURN TO EARTH.  Aldrin has remained at the forefront of efforts to ensure a continued leading role for America in manned space exploration to advance his life-long commitment to venturing outward in space.  He is creating a master plan of evolving missions for sustained exploration utilizing his concepts of perpetual cycling orbits and a tetrahedron design for star craft and star ports.

In addition, he lectures throughout the world on his unique perspective of America's future in space. He authored a book about the Apollo Program entitled MEN FROM EARTH.

From NASA web site.