“When we can demonstrate that we can take off horizontally and put something into orbit, then we can begin to talk about increasing the amount of payload. But to say, 'I'm going to do that and put people into orbit' is a real leap.”

American former astronaut, aeronautical engineer, and fighter pilot

Buzz Aldrin is an American former astronaut, aeronautical engineer, and fighter pilot. He is known for being the second person to walk on the Moon, following mission commander Neil Armstrong. Aldrin served as the pilot of NASA’s Gemini 12 mission in 1966, during which he made three spacewalks. He later flew as the Lunar Module Eagle pilot on Apollo 11 in 1969. He is now the last surviving member of that crew and the oldest living astronaut.