Famed Astronaut Buzz Aldrin Evacuated From South Pole For Medical Reasons
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Former American astronaut Buzz Aldrin, one of the first men to walk on the moon, has been evacuated by plane from the South Pole for medical reasons.
An association of Antarctica tour operators said Thursday that 86-year-old Aldrin was visiting the South Pole with a tourist group when his health deteriorated.
Aldrin was taken on the first available flight to McMurdo Station, a U.S. research center on the Antarctic coast. It described his condition as stable.
The National Science Foundation, which manages the U.S. Antarctic program, said Aldrin would be flown from McMurdo to New Zealand.
Aldrin tweeted several photos this week of him and his group getting ready for the trip.
We're ready to go to Antarctica! May be our last opportunity to tweet for a few days! We're go for departure to the launchpad! pic.twitter.com/vFvsu6OQhb
— Dr. Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) November 29, 2016
Buzz's Polar Penguins countdown to liftoff has commenced. #Antarctica #WhiteDesert pic.twitter.com/0vDc1yP0gT
— Dr. Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) November 29, 2016
South Pole here I come! #antarctica #WhiteDesert #GYATAntarctica pic.twitter.com/PPjfmKvanZ
— Dr. Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) November 29, 2016
Aldrin became the second man to walk on the moon in 1969 as part of the U.S. Apollo 11 mission.
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