re: Did the human error Buzz Aldrin committed during Apollo 11 prevent him from flying again?

Buzz Aldrin was the first astronaut to successfully demonstrate that an astronaut could do mechanical work outside a spacecraft in space. He did this on Gemini 12.This was important because NASA needed astronauts who could work in a vacuum such as on the Moon. He also took the first space selfie.



NASA needed astronauts who could solve problems in space in mere seconds that would kill the average person. While on the Moon preparing to lift off Buzz noticed that the switch to ignite the liftoff rocket had been broken off, probably from one of their spacesuits. No problem, Buzz used part of an ink pen to make a switch with.
After returning from the Moon Buzz was lost. After all the parades what does an astronaut do? Armstrong taught at a university. Buzz became an alcoholic and was a used car salesman for a while.
John Young was the astronaut's astronaut. He flew in Gemini, walked on the Moon, and flew the space shuttle.

Apollo 11 was pretty much a drop mike moment for that crew (Collins was offered command of Apollo 17 but declined). Aldrin was one of the best and smartest astronauts NASA had. He wouldn’t have been grounded.

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What the actual frick?

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Welcome to Tigerdroppings. You must be new if this surprises you.

Buzz would kick your arse for asking youtube

I'm shocked they had a radar capable of getting a skin paint.

Figured the only radar they would've had would have been downward pointing for the purpose of landing.


Curious why procedure would have him turn it off. Guess NASA was worried about it sterilizing Astronauts in front of the LM.

ETA: I'm a dumbass. It makes sense they would have some sort of tracking radar. It's not like you're going to take off from the moon and make a visual re-join.

Buzz got sober and is a fricking man’s man. He’s the greatest

For accidentally breaking the fire button on with his suits LS unit.
He did fix it with a pen.

Buzz invented spacewalking, though. Not "floating in space" and almost dying trying to get back in because you're a Type A fighter/test pilot and the direct approach is default, but the actual art of moving around a spacecraft and getting shite done on EVAs.

So, it sort of balances out.

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Yeah, none of them were going to fly again. NASA was not going to risk losing anyone who was on the first moon mission.

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Certainly didn't want a similar experience to Yuri Gagarin dying on a training flight.

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Have you ever met some of the people who do things like that ? They are usually half retarded on any basic life skills.

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My Dad was s engineer on the Apollo program, every guy and a few women in our neighborhood was a engineer or technician working in the space program. So I have met hundreds of them. They were just like any other cross section of people working on a technical project at a refinery, manufacturing plant, etc. They were scout leaders, coached little league, and my Dad and his friends fished a lot. Most had served in the military, conservatism ruled.