The Day A Man From New Jersey Stepped On The Surface Of The Moon

There have been a dozen human beings who have set foot on the moon, and one of the most famous was born in New Jersey. His story is amazing.

The First New Jersey Foot On The Moon

We all know that on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the moon, uttering his legendary phrase,

That is one mall step for man, and one giant leap for mankind".    Neil Armstrong

But 20 minutes after that incredible moment in history, at 10:15 EDT on July 20, 1969, Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, an astronaut born in Glen Ridge and raised in Montclair, set his foot on the moon, and stepped straight into history.

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As space experts discuss plans to build a permanent base on the moon's surface, we look back at the amazing life of the New Jersey man who is one of only 12 humans to have already set foot there.

The Life of Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin

You must have led an amazing life to be the inspiration behind the name of a legendary Toy Story movie character, and Buzz Aldrin has.

Here's a look at his incredible career. After graduating from Montclair High School, Buzz received a Bachelor of Science degree from the US Military Academy at West Point.

According to NASA, Aldrin was selected for the third group of astronauts in 1963, and his incredible space journey began.

Buzz Aldrin Breaks Space Record In 1966

He joined James Lovell (an eventual Apollo 13 astronaut) on a 4-day Gemini 12 launch, as well as breaking a record, performing a 5 and a half hour EVA outside the vehicle.

Of course, a couple of years later, Aldrin would be part of Apollo 11 and become the second human to walk on the moon.

For a man who flew 66 combat missions in Korea and shot down two MIG 15 aircraft, his work with NASA has made him one of the most recognizable people on the planet.

He left NASA in 1971 and retired from the Air Force in 1972. He has gone on to do a wide variety of things, including his vastly popular appearance on Dancing With the Stars. 

Buzz Aldrin is a New Jersey hero we can all be proud of. Every time you look at the moon, think of the day a kid from New Jersey walked on it.