Named in honor of Edwin Eugene (Buzz) Aldrin Jr. (1930– ), U.S. astronaut, the second man to set foot on the moon. In 1966 he made a record 5.5-hour spacewalk in the course of the Gemini 12 mission. In 1969 he joined Armstrong {see planet  (6469)} on the surface of the moon. This minor planet commemorates the thirtieth anniversary of the first manned lunar-landing mission. (M 34623) _ _.