I ran into Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin last weekend while having brunch with a friend in Santa Monica. He was sitting in a nearby booth, unrecognized by any of the other patrons. We went over and introduced ourselves, spending several minutes chatting about various matters. Buzz was in a fine mood, eager to talk about several projects he’s pursuing.
At 78, Buzz hasn’t slowed down all that much. He’s been in the press a lot lately, criticizing NASA’s Constellation program and narrating Fly Me to Moon, a 3-D animated film about three flies who stow away on the Apollo 11 mission. (The movie has not been very well received by critics; Rotten Tomatoes has it at only 18 percent fresh, with 8 positive reviews and 36 negative ones.)
Below are links to a couple of interviews with Buzz in which the famous moon walker talks about the new movie, his current activities, and his views on where the space program is heading.
7 New Questions on the Future of Mars and Private Space for Buzz Aldrin
Popular Mechanics
“Q: Do we have a space race on our hands now?
A: The finish lines are entirely different. All China has to do is take a Shenzhou and join it up with a Russian propulsion stage and go around the moon and come back. Our purpose is not just to go around the moon. We need to establish a coherent, deliberate program that prepares for commercial use of lunar resources and permanence on Mars. And maybe we learn how to go to smaller places with resources not on the moon. Asteroids just may have very high value.”
8 questions for astronaut Buzz Aldrin
New York Daily News
Q: What future projects are you working on?
A: Well, I’m helping to celebrate 40th reunions of all the Apollo missions and developing lotteries for people to travel in space - like Richard Branson’s flight, but also for orbital flights. In California, I’m also developing some education programs. I’m also strongly supporting and working with oilman T. Boone Pickens and his plan for energy alternatives. I want him to include solar power on satellites in space.
