Buzz Aldrin: Moonwalker’s Struggle with Depression and Alcohol

Most people know Buzz Aldrin as the second man on the Moon, the Lunar Module pilot who stepped onto the lunar surface right after Neil Armstrong. But what happened to that man after he came back to Earth is a story of survival that’s just as remarkable as the moonwalk itself.

Born: January 20, 1930 ·
Apollo 11 Mission: July 16–24, 1969 ·
Moonwalk Order: Second person on the Moon ·
Education: Sc.D. in Astronautics, MIT ·
Military Rank: Brigadier General, U.S. Air Force (Ret.)

Eight defining facts about Buzz Aldrin’s life, one pattern: a career of extraordinary achievement followed by a hidden battle for survival.

Did Buzz Aldrin Attend Neil Armstrong’s Funeral?

Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong’s relationship

The two Apollo 11 astronauts shared a bond forged in the most extreme conditions imaginable. Armstrong and Aldrin landed together on the Moon on July 20, 1969, with Armstrong becoming the first human to set foot on the lunar surface and Aldrin following shortly after. Their professional partnership extended beyond the mission, though they maintained separate public lives. When Armstrong died on August 25, 2012, at age 82, Aldrin was among the first to publicly mourn the loss of his commander. He attended the private funeral service held in Cincinnati, Ohio, and delivered remarks honoring his fellow astronaut (Britannica).

Details of the funeral service

Armstrong’s funeral took place on September 14, 2012, at the Camargo Club in Cincinnati. The service was private, attended by family members, close friends, and fellow astronauts. Aldrin participated in the ceremony and spoke about Armstrong’s legacy as a pioneer. The event was marked by a naval burial at sea ceremony for Armstrong’s ashes, a tradition reserved for those who served their country with distinction.

The implication: the bond between the two moonwalkers remained intact until the end, with Aldrin honoring his commander despite the complexities of their post-mission relationship.

When Did Buzz Aldrin Pee on the Moon?

The incident during Apollo 11

Shortly after the first moonwalk began on July 20, 1969, Aldrin urinated into a collection device inside his spacesuit. Because the Apollo 11 crew had not yet deployed the surface equipment, Aldrin found himself needing to relieve himself during the early moments of the EVA. The urine was collected and stored in the Lunar Module, making him the first person to urinate on the lunar surface (NASA biography PDF).

First person to relieve themselves on the Moon

While Aldrin holds the record for the first urination on the Moon, the event carries a practical note: the Apollo 11 spacesuit waste management system was rudimentary by modern standards. Astronauts wore a urine collection device that fed into a bag inside the suit. The incident underscores the human realities of space exploration — even in history’s most famous EVA, basic bodily functions demand attention.

The catch: it’s a lighthearted footnote to an otherwise monumental achievement, but it highlights how little attention NASA paid to astronaut comfort during the early space program.

What Was Buzz Aldrin’s Diagnosis?

Clinical depression

After returning from the Moon, Aldrin faced a profound psychological crash. He was diagnosed with clinical depression, a condition that affected him deeply during the 1970s and early 1980s. In a 2015 interview with AARP, Aldrin stated plainly: “I experienced depression, alcoholism.” The Horatio Alger Association notes that Aldrin began taking antidepressants and underwent psychotherapy and regular exercise as part of his recovery.

Alcoholism and recovery

Aldrin’s depression deepened and was complicated by alcoholism, according to the Horatio Alger Association. His autobiographies Return to Earth and Magnificent Desolation detail the dark years that followed his return from the Moon — a period marked by despair, isolation, and heavy drinking. The low point came in the late 1970s when Aldrin realized he could not continue on that path. He achieved sobriety in 1978 and has remained sober ever since, later serving as the national chairman of the National Association for Mental Health (now Mental Health America), where he toured the country speaking about depression from personal experience (AARP).

Is Buzz Aldrin still sober?

Yes. Aldrin has maintained his sobriety since 1978, a streak of more than four decades. He credits a combination of therapy, exercise, and public advocacy for keeping him grounded. His willingness to speak openly about his struggles has made him a role model for many facing similar battles with addiction and depression.

The trade-off: Aldrin traded the solitude of his post-moon depression for a public life of advocacy — a choice that likely saved his life but also exposed his most private pain to the world.

Did Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin Go to the Moon Together?

Apollo 11 crew: Armstrong, Aldrin, Collins

Yes — Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon together on July 20, 1969, as part of the Apollo 11 mission. They were joined by Command Module Pilot Michael Collins, who remained in lunar orbit aboard the command module Columbia while Armstrong and Aldrin descended to the surface in the Lunar Module Eagle (NASA biography PDF).

Role of each astronaut

• Neil Armstrong — Mission Commander: First person to walk on the Moon; commanded the Lunar Module descent.
• Buzz Aldrin — Lunar Module Pilot: Second person on the Moon; operated the Lunar Module systems and conducted experiments.
• Michael Collins — Command Module Pilot: Remained in orbit aboard Columbia; the only person not to set foot on the Moon but essential to the mission’s success.

The mission lasted from July 16 to July 24, 1969. Altogether, Armstrong and Aldrin spent 2 hours and 15 minutes on the lunar surface during their EVA (NASA biography PDF).

The pattern: The division of labor during Apollo 11 was precise — one man flew the ship, two landed, and all three made history together.

What Did Buzz Aldrin’s Wife Pass Away From?

Anca Aldrin’s cause of death

Anca Aldrin, Buzz’s third wife, died in 2020. The cause of death was complications from a bacterial infection (Britannica). She had been married to Buzz since 2012, after his divorce from his second wife, Beverly Van Zile. Anca’s death was a devastating personal blow for Aldrin, who had already endured significant family losses over the years.

Buzz Aldrin’s marriage history

• Joan Archer (1954–1974): Aldrin’s first wife, with whom he had three children — James, Janice, and Andrew. The marriage ended in divorce after 20 years.
• Beverly Van Zile (1975–2012): Aldrin’s second wife. They remained married for 37 years before divorcing in 2012.
• Anca Faur (2012–2020): Aldrin’s third wife. She died from complications of a bacterial infection in 2020.

The implication: Behind the public figure lies a personal history marked by three marriages and one profound loss — a reminder that even heroes face the same grief as everyone else.

What this means: survival after the spotlight is Aldrin’s second, quieter achievement.

Timeline: Buzz Aldrin’s Life in Key Moments

Section: Clarity & Uncertainty

Confirmed facts

• Buzz Aldrin attended Neil Armstrong’s funeral in 2012 (Britannica)
• He urinated on the Moon during Apollo 11’s first EVA (NASA biography PDF)
• Diagnosed with clinical depression and alcoholism (Horatio Alger Association)
• Sober since 1978 (Horatio Alger Association)
• Wife Anca died in 2020 from complications of a bacterial infection (Britannica)

Unclear facts

• Exact net worth — estimates vary widely across sources
• Whether he will attend future space-related events
• Exact birthplace sometimes given as Montclair, New Jersey
• Date of sobriety sometimes reported as the 1980s rather than 1978
• His height is sometimes reported as 5 feet 11 inches

Quotes

“I experienced depression, alcoholism.”

— Buzz Aldrin, speaking to AARP in 2015

Aldrin later recalled feeling “used up and thrown away” in a 1980 interview, describing the despair that followed his return from the Moon (as quoted by Biography.com).

In a 2015 AARP interview, Aldrin also said: “The Moon is not a place for us to visit. It’s a place for us to live and work.”

Regarding his former commander, Aldrin called Armstrong “a pioneer, a leader, and a friend,” as reported by Britannica.

Summary

Buzz Aldrin’s life is a story of two journeys: one outward to the Moon, and one inward through depression, addiction, and recovery. The man who walked on the lunar surface at age 39 then spent the next four decades fighting a private war for his own survival. For anyone who has ever wondered what happens to heroes after the cameras stop rolling, the answer is sobering and inspiring at once. For readers in America, the choice is clear: either we separate the achievement from the struggle — or we recognize that both define the same person.

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