Astronaut Buzz Aldrin Again Visits Namesake Elementary School in Reston

I really enjoyed spending time on #Mars yesterday with the kids from @AldrinEagles I was a kid once too! Still am. Gotta show off our socks! pic.twitter.com/0J313dksU8

— Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) May 12, 2017

Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon in July 1969.

Now, 48 years later, he again has walked the halls of a school bearing his name in Reston.

The 87-year-old visited Buzz Aldrin Elementary School last week while he was in the area to attend the annual Humans to Mars Summit. At the school, Aldrin presented for students his thoughts and hopes for future travel to the Red Planet. He also gave them a large map of the planet.

Aldrin last visited the school for its 20th anniversary in 2015. In the school’s early years, he visited each year. He now comes more sporadically, maybe every two or three years, school representative Lesley Aschenbach said.

“Hopefully, kids get to see him twice in their career here,” she said.

After the recent presentation, Aldrin gathered on the Mars map with representatives from each grade level while a videographer recorded testimonials from the students on their thoughts about space exploration and what travel to Mars would mean for mankind. The students’ discussion will be used as part of an emerging program for Aldrin’s ShareSpace Foundation.

In addition, Aldrin Elementary School STEAM resource teacher Jackie Wheeler, school-based technology specialist Eve Davies and Principal Shane Wolfe printed a special bracelet for Aldrin on a 3D printer during his visit.

I visited my namesake school in Reston, VA today and brought my son Andy along to help me inspire these #GenerationMars kids! pic.twitter.com/8rM4KycHdh

— Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) May 11, 2017