Buzz Aldrin walked on the Moon and now he wants to see humans live in Mars in 25 years.
The 85-year-old astronaut who made history by being the second man to step foot on the surface of the moon, announced that he is forging a partnership with the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) to create a program aimed at sending inhabitants to the Red Planet. According to Time, Aldrin timed his Mars master plan to fall on the 70th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission which was the program that made mankind's first step on the moon possible.
Outlined in the same report from Time is how Aldrin plans to make use of the moons of Mars to act as way-stations for astronauts. The scheme included the duration of stay of the first arrivals which would be 10 years at the least. Aldrin wants NASA to go over his plan but it was already reported earlier that the US Space program was already geared to take the first astronaut to Mars by around 2030.
In a report posted in ars technica, FIT and Aldrin will formally launch the Buzz Aldrin Space Institute this fall. The veteran spaceman will also be assuming the role of senior faculty adviser and research professor of aeronautics. The institute issued a press release that Aldrin's plan is actually not new and that he has been working on plans to conquer Mars since 1985.
Aldrin himself sent out a statement saying he was thrilled to be working with FIT in Florida, which he calls his new home state. He also added, "I am proud of my time at NASA with the Gemini 12 and Apollo 11 programs, but I hope to be remembered more for my contributions to the future. FIT will play a key role in my ongoing legacy and Cycling Pathways to Occupy Mars. You ain't seen nothing yet!"
