posted 12-01-2016 07:52 AM               

The 86-year-old former astronaut was visiting Antarctica in a tourist group and was evacuated to the US Antarctic Program's research centre.

The White Desert tour company said Mr. Aldrin was stable under the care of a doctor. The evacuation flight was provided by the National Science Foundation who said Mr Aldrin was "ailing."

posted 12-01-2016 08:52 AM               

Statement from White Desert About South Pole Medical Evacuation

A White Desert client, Buzz Aldrin, has been evacuated from South Pole. Mr. Aldrin was visiting the Pole as part of a tourist group and while there his condition deteriorated.

As a precaution, following discussion between the White Desert doctor and the US Antarctic Program doctor, Mr. Aldrin, accompanied by a member of his team, was evacuated on the first available flight out of the South Pole to McMurdo with the USAP under the care of a USAP doctor. His condition was described as stable upon White Desert doctor's hand-over to the USAP medial team. 

White Desert would like to express their gratitude to USAP at this time for their support.

His family have been informed of the situation.  

This flight is still in progress and there will be further updates when additional information is available.

posted 12-01-2016 09:02 AM               

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!

South Pole here I come!

posted 12-01-2016 01:03 PM               

The second man to walk on the moon has been evacuated from Antarctica to New Zealand suffering respiratory problems.

The former astronaut is in Christchurch Hospital where he is being treated for fluid on his lungs after a midnight mercy dash from the icy continent.

posted 12-01-2016 01:15 PM               

Evacuation to Christchurch, New Zealand

1915 UTC Thursday 1st December

The evacuation flight for Buzz Aldrin has successfully landed at Christchurch, New Zealand and he has been transferred to hospital for examination. He is currently has fluid in his lungs but is responding well to antibiotics and being kept in overnight for observation. His condition is stable and his manager, who is currently with him, described him being in good spirits.

We would like to offer our sincere thanks to the team at the American National Science Foundation for accommodating Buzz and his manager on one of their flights from the South Pole to New Zealand via McMurdo.

There will be further updates when additional information is available.

posted 12-01-2016 07:35 PM               

I was at Destination Alpha, the station's main entrance, as the tour party started to file in. Most were gasping in the thin, -30 degree air, and some had notable difficulty climbing the two stories to the station's elevated entrance. New arrivals to the South Pole are generally expected to experience mild to intermediate altitude sickness on arrival, and the harshness of the environment is why the USAP requires all participants to undergo exhaustive physical and mental examinations before being cleared for deployment. Tourists are subject to none of these restrictions – and with many visitors being decades older than the average South Pole resident, they can find themselves hit extraordinarily hard by altitude-induced medical conditions.

Buzz entered the station towards the group's rear, with his son and manager in tow. After shedding their heavy cold weather gear, Buzz took a seat while other members of the tour group milled around taking photos of our display case of old Pole markers. A small group of science and support staff had gathered to welcome him, and Buzz spent a few minutes talking with us about his views on Elon Musk (he's got enough money to do whatever he wants), NASA (hasn't got enough money to do whatever they want), and Mars (an essential destination, but Buzz believes making a pitstop base at the Moon first is critical for the logistics or resupplying the Red Planet. Kind of like a McMurdo to our South Pole Station). A great idea, but lest we forget, he's Buzz Aldrin, so he's naturally biased...

posted 12-02-2016 01:50 AM               

As Buzz Aldrin is recovering, I did want to let people know that he did make it to the South Pole, which was his objective. Thanks for prayers!

posted 12-02-2016 03:43 PM               

I had a surprise visitor this morning. My longtime friend Dava Newman, NASA Deputy Administrator. She beat me to the South Pole by one day.

posted 12-02-2016 07:47 PM               

I just told Buzz Aldrin that the National Science Foundation said he now holds the record as the oldest person to reach the South Pole He'll be insufferable now.

posted 12-03-2016 08:18 PM               

Statement from Buzz Aldrin Enterprises

18:30 GMT Saturday 3rd December 2016

Buzz Aldrin is resting in hospital in Christchurch, New Zealand. He still has some congestion in his lungs so has been advised not to take the long flight home to the States and to rest in New Zealand while it clears up.

Having been cleared by doctors previously, Buzz took the trip to Antarctica to add to his exploration achievements after having spacewalked in orbit during the Gemini 12 mission in 1966, having walked on the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, traveled down to see the Titanic in 1996 and to the North Pole in 1998. The trip to the South Pole is the capstone of his personal exploration achievements.

But his primary interest in coming to Antarctica was to experience and study conditions akin to Mars that are more similar there than any other place on earth.

"I'm extremely grateful to the National Space Foundation (NSF) for their swift response and help in evacuating me from the Admunsen-Scott Science Station to McMurdo Station and on to New Zealand. I had been having a great time with the group at White Desert's camp before we ventured further south. I really enjoyed the time I spent talking with the Science Station's staff too," said Aldrin from his hospital room.

"I started to feel a bit short of breath so the staff decided to check my vitals. After some examination they noticed congestion in my lungs and that my oxygen levels were low which indicated symptoms of altitude sickness. This prompted them to get me out on the next flight to McMurdo and once I was at sea level I began to feel much better. I didn't get as much time to spend with the scientists as I would have liked to discuss the research they're doing in relation to Mars. My visit was cut short and I had to leave after a couple of hours. I really enjoyed my short time in Antarctica and seeing what life could be like on Mars."

"Finally, thanks to everyone from around the world for their well wishes and support. I'm being very well looked after in Christchurch. I'm looking forward to getting home soon to spend Christmas with my family and to continue my quest for Cycling Pathways and a permanent settlement on Mars. You ain't seen nothing yet!", concluded Aldrin.

posted 12-04-2016 01:42 PM               

Catching up on the world while I'm stuck in quarantine. Apparently Kim Kardashian is out in public again.

posted 12-04-2016 01:44 PM               

The nurse is making Buzz Aldrin do his least favorite thing — exercise. So he walks too fast for her to catch up to get it over with.

posted 12-04-2016 01:46 PM               

Before we went to the South Pole we were staying at the amazing White Desert Whichaway camp. Looked like Mars except where the snow was.

posted 12-04-2016 10:09 PM               

Someone sent me affirmation cards. The first one said "Follow your inner moonlight. Don't fight the madness." Howl!

posted 12-09-2016 06:43 PM               

Bye bye New Zealand! Hope to see you again! (But next time for vacation and not evacuation.)

posted 12-10-2016 01:52 AM               

RIP and Godspeed John Glenn

posted 12-15-2016 05:54 AM               

In an exclusive interview, Buzz Aldrin, 86, tells TODAY’s Al Roker about his visit to the South Pole and the health scare that cut it short. While hospitalized, Aldrin learned of the death of his friend and fellow astronaut John Glenn, whom he remembers as an "all-American guy."