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Buzz Aldrin: We'll Be on Mars 'Before 2040'

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Astronaut Buzz Aldrin before a speaking engagement in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 2013.

Image: Danny Johnston/Associated Press

By Alex Magdaleno2 days ago

Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin has walked on the moon, and now he's touched down in Menlo Park.
Aldrin, one of three astronauts who were part of the historic Apollo 11 space mission that successfully landed on our gravitational neighbor on July 20, 1969, stopped by Facebook headquarters for a Q&A on Friday.

See also: 'The Eagle Has Landed:' The Apollo 11 Mission, 45 Years Later

Post by Buzz Aldrin.

Aldrin responded to all sorts of questions from Facebook users — ranging from technical questions regarding NASA's past and current space endeavors to the future of traveling to Mars to what his favorite sandwich is (note to Buzz: we're not sure a quesadilla really counts as a sandwich, but they are definitely the most delicious).

After his visit to Facebook, Aldrin stopped by Instagram's Anti-Gravity Room, where guests can take photos that, when turned clockwise, provide the illusion of anti-gravity.

Post by Buzz Aldrin.

You can check out the entire Q&A here, but we've compiled some of the highlights for you space enthusiasts, below:

Hi Dr. Aldrin. Did you think we should have been on Mars by now?
Buzz Aldrin: It depends on when "did" was. In 2009, my submission to the Augustine Commission of United Space Vision had the U.S. leading internationals with landing on Mars in 2031. I believe it may take us until just before 2040.

Will it be better to send older or younger people to settle on Mars? (At least at first?)
A mix of ages would be best.

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin trains in his space suit in 1969.

What can we do to get the space program back to where it was in the '60's with the emphasis on exploration?
I think we are much smarter now then we were in the '60s and a fundamental improvement I developed in 1985 was continuous cycling orbits not just between the Earth and the Moon, but more importantly between the Earth and Mars. [Continuous cycling orbits are a theoretical trajectory that would allow a spacecraft to both orbit and encounter Earth and Mars in one launch.]

What's your favorite sandwich?
Is a Quesadilla a sandwich?

What are your thoughts on the Space X program?
Innovation and young, fresh thinking has resulted in a much needed challenge to the old standbys.

Mr. Aldrin. I know it's not about the future of the space program, but can you tell us a little about your [Air Force] training in Bryan, Texas?

Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin sits in a fighter plane while training in Bryan, Texas.

Image: Kyle Jones

The "Maytag" Mustang T-28 was a great trainer, however, without a g-suit, I attempted a double Immelmann. I completely passed out and awoke heading for the state of Texas with two controls in each hand. Fortunately, I had the intuitive reaction to pull back on both of them. [Aldrin was in the U.S. Air Force in the '50s and a double Immelman is a complicated aviation maneuver.]

How can we help NASA get more funding?
Have Office of Management and Budget and Congressional appropriators listen to John Glenn (the first American to orbit Earth) and all of us early space pioneers. How about 1% of discretionary funds and ramping up to enable pioneering permanents or, in modern terminology, to occupy Mars before 2040?
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Topics: buzz aldrin, Facebook, Social Media, Space, U.S.