posted June 23, 2009 01:43 AM               

I tell a story about my time on the Moon now,
The sky was black even though the sun shined on,
The moonwalk was such a trip -- it's so fine,
When you're walking in the lunar dust.

It took us four days riding in a rocket,
To set foot for the very first time,
I'm going to tell you about the meaning of it all,
We came in peace for all mankind.

-- Buzz Aldrin, Rocket Experience

Aldrin's rap, which is now available as an mp3 through iTunes, was composed with the help of rapper Snoop Dogg, according to a New York Times' interview with the moonwalker.

posted June 23, 2009 01:59 AM               

Apologies to American Idol's Randy Jackson, but yo, dawg, check it! MC Buzz is out of this world and in the house. And, admittedly, just a little bit pitchy.

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, 79, who has had his share of rendezvous with pop culture, launches three projects today, including a rap video that features Snoop Dogg, Soulja Boy and Quincy Jones. What can the real Buzz Lightyear be thinking?

posted June 23, 2009 09:19 AM               

I had a lot of fun writing this song for Buzz -- and he did a great job recording it, with the help of some serious rappers. Buzz hopes all of you will ride on a rocket someday to experience space. Remember a portion of the proceeds goes to the nonprofit Sharespace Foundation, and to benefit these charities: National Space Society, Planetary Society, and Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.

posted June 23, 2009 01:54 PM            

This is a new arena for our hero and he is approaching the youth on new grounds that many Apollo-era cannot fathom. But neither could the 50's era be understood by the 20's era either.

posted June 23, 2009 02:22 PM               

I am so tired of seeing Buzz Aldrin at every event. You would think he was the only man who walked on the moon! Why does he go out of his way to be in the spotlight?

Yes, you were the second man to walk on the moon! Yes, you flew on Apollo 11! No more books, no more dolls, no more Disney characters... please!

It's pathetic! You are famous! Some of the most famous pictures in history are of you! Neil Armstrong was the first. You will not be forgotten as the second, please let it go and get over it!

There are other moonwalkers who are more interesting and deserve the honor and credit also and should have their own line of dolls and books. These men are comfortable and secure with their legacy.

posted June 23, 2009 02:34 PM               

I don't believe it has anything to do with being the second, you're reading too much into this.

posted June 23, 2009 02:44 PM               

Why do this and the other endorsement tie-ins? The off-the-cuff response would be "for the money", though in this and many other cases, the funds are donated to charities (although as Aldrin explains in his new memoir, the commercial activities originally provided a source of income when no other source was available).

Aldrin has a driving passion for advancing the future of space exploration and travel. He reaches out to any audience that will listen to his message. As legacies go, Aldrin as the outspoken space advocate is as positive an activity as one could hope from a former moonwalker.

Personally, I would much rather a world where a moonwalker was constantly being seen then a world where they were absent from all but the expected events (e.g. mission anniversaries, launches, etc.). Aldrin's celebrity has done more to push us in the direction of the Moon and on Mars than anyone else I could name.

And for the record, Aldrin did not name Buzz Lightyear. As John Lasseter recounted during our interview...

"We were sitting around trying to figure out his name," recalled Lasseter, "and we were not having much luck. I said, 'Well, what about astronaut names?' So without question, the coolest astronaut name is Buzz Aldrin. And then we started talking about space terms, rattling off all these space terms, looking stuff up, and all of sudden the suggestion of lightyear came up, as it was a measure of distance in space. We all looked at each other and said, 'Buzz, Lightyear'. It was like, 'Done! We got it, that's it!'"

posted June 23, 2009 02:58 PM               

Gene Cernan hasn't written a children's book, though nothing is stopping him from doing so as Alan Bean and Sally Ride and Bill Pogue have done.

posted June 23, 2009 03:38 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Joaquin Berndes:
He is not the spokesman for the space race or Apollo, or future space travels.

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posted June 23, 2009 04:29 PM               

Saw his appearance on the Today show this morning. He had to get a plug in for his website. I also am tired of "all things Buzz".

I agree he is an accomplished individual. But the rap song? Cute, but why? Egos are egos.

posted June 23, 2009 04:55 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by JPSastro:
But the rap song? Cute, but why?

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"I'm not too good at carrying a tune, but I do have rhythm," says Aldrin, who got the idea from a family member who felt the genre would have a broad reach. "I want kids interested in space. It's their future."

posted June 23, 2009 07:12 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Joaquin Berndes:
How about an Alan Bean doll?

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posted June 23, 2009 07:26 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by gliderpilotuk:
...perfect role model, just perfect.

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posted June 24, 2009 04:28 AM               

I have always thought that the lure of exploration in itself would lure youngsters into spaceflight, but obviously we need Snoop Dogg to help us get them interested.

posted June 24, 2009 07:53 AM               

If Mr. Aldrin wishes to perform a rap song, that's up to him. If he wishes to appear on everything hawking his website, that's fine too. For whatever reason he seems to enjoy the spotlight and is willing to do what it takes to remain there. That's his choice.