When Buzz Aldrin Came to Visit
- 20th Jan 2025
- Author: Elliott Langley - Marketing Administrator
Saturday 18 June 2005 was one of the most important days in the history of the National Space Centre. We were just about to celebrate our 4th birthday, and were lucky enough to welcome one of the most iconic figures in the history of space exploration: Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk on the Moon.
As you might expect, the Apollo 11 lunar landing is a moment in history that we have always celebrated; from the recreation of a 1960s living room in our Space Race exhibition, to our actual piece of the Moon on display, it’s a historical landmark we are always talking about.
“When the astronauts of Apollo 11 landed on the Moon, it was a massive deal,” says Dhara Patel, our Space Expert. “Humans had ventured somewhere new – it was a profound achievement with some incredible discoveries. The whole world could marvel at the accomplishment, and it essentially changed the course of technological advancement on our planet. Having the opportunity to welcome one of the Apollo 11 astronauts to our Centre was a phenomenal milestone.”
As we wish Buzz Aldrin a very happy 95th birthday today, I decided to look back on this amazing day and to speak to some of the team who helped make the visit from Buzz such a special occasion.
First Steps
Kevin Yates, Head of Exhibition Development: I was Space Communications Manager at the time, so I was heavily involved. Buzz Aldrin had written a new children’s book called ‘Reaching the Moon’, and he was promoting it in the UK. He very kindly agreed do a signing here, which was a huge deal for us, considering that we were still a fairly new organisation. So we spent a huge amount of time planning for Buzz’s visit, we wanted it to go as smooth as possible. We knew that we had to get in lots of school children for the day, they would love to the opportunity to see Buzz Aldrin in person and hear him talk.
Steve Brooks [Former Head of Security]: I was asked to look after Dr Aldrin and to be his chaperone on the day, which was quite the honour! The plan was for me to head down to Leicester Railway Station and meet him on the platform. It was a hot day in June, and I remember standing on the platform with a sign saying “National Space Centre”, ready to greet Dr Aldrin. The train pulled up as expected, everyone started to get off… but Buzz was nowhere to be seen.
A Special Day
Steve: I started panicking! “Where’s Buzz,” I was thinking. Had he missed his train? Was he still on the Moon? But then at the very last moment he stepped off the train after everyone else. I started breathing again! He had a big smile on his face as he walked over to me and said “Hi! You must be Steve?”. He was so friendly, he gave me a big handshake and introduced me to his wife. So then I drove him back to the Centre, all the time thinking “I’ve got the second man to walk on the Moon in my car”. I don’t think I’ve ever driven so gingerly before. Eventually we parked up at the Centre, walked down the ramp to the entrance, and he received such a big welcome. There was a huge gathering, everyone from the Centre was there. It was wonderful.
Kevin: We had arranged to give Buzz a big introduction in our Planetarium, in front of the guests and children. We welcomed Buzz in with thunderous applause, it was packed. But I was so worried as it was happening, because I had agreeded to host the session and I’d convinced myself that I was accidentally going to introduce him as Buzz Lightyear! I was thinking to myself “Buzz Aldrin, Buzz Aldrin, Buzz Aldrin,” as he walked to the front. Thankfully I managed to get through it without calling him the wrong Buzz!
Steve: We had arranged to take questions from the audience, but before we started the Q&A Buzz was actually kind enough to give a whole talk, which wasn’t something we were expecting. So it was absolutely lovely of him to do that for our guests. Then he took questions from the audience, and he was absolutely wonderful at answering them.
The Grand Tour
Steve: Once we were done in the Space Theatre [now known as the Sir Patrick Moore Planetarium], we took Buzz on a tour of the Centre and our exhibition.
Kevin: Buzz and I had a walk around our galleries, with Steve in tow. Buzz was very interested in the threat that Near Earth Objects pose to our planet, so we had a really deep conversation about the subject. I was also the manager of the Near Earth Object Information Centre, so we talked about the reality of asteroids impacting the Earth. He was a big advocate of being ready for such a situation, so he was very keen to hear how we were teaching people about the subject. We talked about how the field has become more risk averse, and how he and his fellow astronauts represented a time where more risks were taken in the spirit of exploration. It was fascinating.
Steve: Once the tour was done, we went into what was then the Challenger Learning Centre [currently known as the POD] and spent time talking with children about his experiences as an astronaut.
Kevin: Buzz’s focus with the children was the idea that if you apply yourself and work hard, then you achieve great things. It takes dedication and staying power, so don’t limit yourself and give your everything to your passions. He was very enthusiastic and passionate, and absolutely wonderful to listen to speak.
One Great Lunch
Kevin: By then, it was time to have lunch. We planned a special dinner with Buzz in our Shuttle Suites. I was sat with him and got to share a meal with a space legend. How often do you get to do something as cool as that? We’d invited lots of high-profile people from the STEM field, who joined us around the table. He was so accommodating, and made time for everyone and answered every question.
Steve: We ran a competition with our staff so that some of the team would have the opportunity to join in the lunch, and to keep it fair. There were 3 tables set up, with lots of guests from the University of Leicester.
Meeting The Man on the Moon
Kevin: I had been lucky enough to meet Dick Gordan previously, so Buzz Aldrin wasn’t the first person I’d met who had been into space. But it was definitely a hugely special moment in my life to meet someone so iconic, and who had been a major part of the Moon landing and space history as a whole.
Steve: I was 13 and living up in Yorkshire in 1969. I remember my father waking me up in the middle of the night. “Do you want to see the man walk on the Moon?” he asked me. Of course I said yes! For one thing, it was an exciting moment in history… but if I’m honest, it was just as exciting to be allowed to stay up late in the night! We sat together and watched the whole thing. So it was a very surreal moment to meet Buzz in real life, knowing that I had watched him and Neil Armstrong on TV with my dad. It was such a special day, I think back to it often. I even have all the schedules for the day printed out still, I’ve got them upstairs!
Departure
Kevin: We wrapped up the day with the book signing in the galleries. I got my daughter a signed copy of his book, which she loved. We still have it in the house!
Steve: When the day was done, I drove Buzz and his wife back to the train station. And then the worst thing happened. We got back to the train station and, of course, the train was delayed. Not by 10 or 15 minutes, but by a whole hour! So we had to sit in the café on the platform and wait for the train. I was so alert and on standby, because it was busy on the platform and I was worried that we were going to get lots of attention from other passengers. But the hour went by, and the train finally came. I saw Dr Aldrin onto the train and he waved goodbye from the window. And then I let out a deep breath; it had been a long day!
A Day to Remember
Steve: I still think about that day, it was a wonderful memory. That experience allowed me the opportunity to chauffer Pier Sellers, Tim Peak and Stan Love. But it also proved to everyone, including ourselves, that the National Space Centre really can do anything we set our minds to. We had been visited by the Queen before this, but this was the first time we had done something on this scale. To get the second man on the Moon to visit us, and to make the event as successful as it was, it really was a massive confidence boost for the team. It was a huge milestone for the Centre and it was a great honour for all of us. We were all walking around with big smiles on our faces knowing that we pulled something amazing off.
Happy 95th birthday to Buzz Aldrin from everyone at the National Space Centre, past and present. Huge thanks to Steve and Kevin for taking the time to share their memories.
