Astronaut Buzz Aldrin is Being Emergency Evacuated From the South Pole (businessinsider.com)

The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced Thursday morning that it will provide a "humanitarian medical evacuation flight" from the South Pole for an "ailing" Buzz Aldrin. BusinessInsider adds: Aldrin was the second man to walk on the moon, joining Neil Armstrong in the Apollo 11 Lunar Module in July 1969. He has since become an author and advocate for crewed missions to Mars. He is 86, and no further information is available as to his condition. The NSF's statement said that an NSF plane will fly Aldrin from the Amundsen-Scott research station at the South Pole to McMurdo Station on the Antarctic coast. At that point ski-equipped LC-130 cargo planes flown by the 109th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard will haul him to New Zealand "as soon as possible."

Comments

What

[110010001000]

What is Buzz Aldrin doing at the South Pole? Is he the anti-Santa?

Re:What

[CohibaVancouver]

What is Buzz Aldrin doing at the South Pole?

Being awesome, most likely.

Re:What

[peragrin]

Hiding from The news of the past year

Re:What

[110010001000]

What news? Did anything happen recently? I haven't been paying much attention.

Re:What

[plopez]

Good question. If he had been any other applicant he would probably have been rejected. Younger and fit people are preferred for exactly this reason, they have less risk of medical problems. It is a good thing it happened in the summer as a winter evacuation would be horribly dangerous.

Re:What

[PvtVoid]

What is Buzz Aldrin doing at the South Pole? Is he the anti-Santa?

It's a hoax. He was never on the moon either.

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

Spacenutters are going crazy over the negative impact that a Trump presidency will yield.

Re:What

[110010001000]

Who the heck is Trump? The only Trump I know is that TV guy Donald Trump with bad hair and no one would vote for that guy.

Re:What

[Bruce Perens]

Not unless Scientologists are anti-santa.

Buzz was on a tour. I think just a civilian one.

I've seen him around a few times (he travels as a speaker, so do I, but he gets paid to fly first class, I'm in coach). He looks pretty healthy for his age.

Re:What

[Viol8]

No matter how fit he is, I think visiting the south pole aged 86 its taking awesomeness a bit too far.

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

That's the Trump and 62,625,786 anti-spacenutters voted for him.

Re:What

[Nidi62]

Good question. If he had been any other applicant he would probably have been rejected. Younger and fit people are preferred for exactly this reason, they have less risk of medical problems.

He was down there on an organized tour for tourists. He wasn't working down there. And for anyone wondering, according to the tour service's website, they only cost 64,000 euros per person. Hope he sprung for the optional insurance.

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

Agreed, he's not killing elephants like the fucking ex-king of spain or killing liions like that bastard california dentist.

Re:What

[Viol8]

" If he had been any other applicant he would probably have been rejected"

Indeed. And while he's a brave man and a hero I'm afraid the human body doesn't care. 86 is old no matter who you are or how fit you are and the south pole is really no place for someone of that age.

"would be horribly dangerous."

More like virtually impossible.

Re:What

[Rei]

Or, for that matter, the POTUS's two adult sons. I always forget their names... Uday and Qusay?

Re:What

[110010001000]

No wonder Space Nutters want to leave this planet so badly!

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

Now that's a hell of a comment!

Re:What

[Rei]

Where else are they supposed to stage the first manned landing on Europa if not Antarctica?

Re:What

[Rei]

Bad voters! Sad.

Re:What

[nospam007]

"No matter how fit he is, I think visiting the south pole aged 86 its taking awesomeness a bit too far."

Why? Compared to the moon, the temperatures on the south pole are quite toasty.

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

With a comment like that.... you sound like a Trump Twitter post.

Re:What

[rrohbeck]

Americans have a long tradition of voting incompetent but popular figures into office.

Re:What

[Viol8]

Actually Mr Troll they're not. The moon in the daylight is about 100C.

Re:What

[msauve]

"Americans have a long tradition of voting incompetent but popular figures into office."

They've been doing it for decades.

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

It is a good thing it happened in the summer as a winter evacuation would be horribly dangerous.

As of now it is still spring, i.e., worse than an arctic winter.

Re:What

[Thelasko]

Being awesome, most likely.

His Instagram account has a picture of him wearing a belt and suspenders. Those astronauts really believe in redundancy of critical systems.

Joking aside. I hope he's OK.

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

What is Buzz Aldrin doing at the South Pole?

Being awesome, most likely.

Filming the Mars landing duhhh

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

Whoosh

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”

-Hunter S. Thompson

Re:What

[ugen]

Where are the mod points when you need them?

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

Dying

While this comment was modded down, it does raise and interesting point. What if his hope really was to die in Antarctica. Pesky medical protocols getting in his way. Some people have wishes like that.

Re:What

[ChunderDownunder]

And, sadly, if anyone could have fixed the Stargate before the army's budget was cut, it was Aldrin.

Re:What

[blindseer]

Where else are they supposed to stage the first manned landing on Europa if not Antarctica?

Europa.

I heard the moon landings were staged on a movie set located on the moon.

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

Trump isn't POTUS; Obama is.

Re:What

[stealth_finger]

"No matter how fit he is, I think visiting the south pole aged 86 its taking awesomeness a bit too far."

Why? Compared to the moon, the temperatures on the south pole are quite toasty.

Because they send 86 year olds to the moon all the time.

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

Freemasons are out of the public eye in Antarctica.

Re:What

[Gryle]

I think you mean the Air Force's budget. The budget wasn't cut, they just diverted it to the F-35.

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

> It's a hoax. He was never on the moon either.

This.

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

Dying

While this comment was modded down, it does raise and interesting point. What if his hope really was to die in Antarctica. Pesky medical protocols getting in his way. Some people have wishes like that.

That could be an appropriate death for a great explorer. There couldn`t be a better place.

Re:What

[Camel Pilot]

Actually Flat Earthers believe that NASA (The S stands for Satan) patrol the "ice wall" at Antarctica to prevent the truth the flat earth getting out. No kidding I have facebook associates that are flat earthers and they really believe this.

Re:What

[cmiller173]

So impossible it has only been done thrice.

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

The Truman Show meets Game of Thrones.

Re:What

[dywolf]

^This.

Seriously people.
Follow his facebook if you don't already.
The man is prolific, and still excited to learn, discover, and push himself, and then educate and share with others.

Re:What

[Immerman]

Honestly, at that age your remaining days are numbered, and it's not a big number. So your only real options lie on the spectrum between:

1) Live as safely as possible, taking no risks, including indulging in any pleasures that might increase those risks (that would be most of them), and try to put off dying as long as possible at any cost.

2) Do anything you want, knowing that your time is running out, and that even if it kills you didn't really have much left to lose anyway.

Personally I have a lot more respect for those who lean towards the latter. The former seems to me to have little to do with living, and much to do with fearing the inevitable.

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

What is Buzz Aldrin doing at the South Pole?

After decades of perpetrating a lie he probably just wanted to actually see the edge of the world for himself before dying.

Re: What

[Anonymous Coward]

The antispacenutter is now in full self echo chamber mode. Any moment now, he'll go on a rampage. Keep calm and carry on, his kind usually can't operate a firearm and actually aiming is beyond them.

Re:What

[Coisiche]

Maybe we need POTUS and PEOTUS to allow some people to differentiate during this interim period.

Re: What

[Anonymous Coward]

So all those little nigglets with body parts chopped and blown off by whatever militia are somehow prime examples of living a fullfilling life?

Re:What

[MightyMartian]

I urge you to go tell Buzz that to his face...

https://youtu.be/wptn5RE2I-k

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

Seriously, don't you have anything better to do than posting dozens of inane comments every day?

For fucks sake give it a rest.

Re:What

[Anonymous Cow Ward]

Re-read that comment.

Re:What

[MightyMartian]

He walked on the Moon. If Buzz Aldrin wants to go to the South Pole, who the hell has any right to say no?

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

I heard the moon landings were staged on a movie set located on the moon.

I heard the movie set was located on Mars.

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

``The job of the president isn't to wield power, but to draw attention away from it...'' ---DNA/HHGG

Trump will do that job perfectly!

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

Much Respect.

- He's got The Right Stuff;
- Been to the Moon;
- Has the nickname 'Buzz', and everyone uses it, without irony, hesitation or question.

God Speed, Buzz Aldrin!

Re: What

[110010001000]

I have a big gun and I am going to take it with me when I emigrate to Mars!

Re: What

[Anonymous Coward]

Obviously, he was fixing the other Stargate.

Re:What

[drew_kime]

It's a hoax. He was never on the moon either.

Say that to his face. I dare ya.

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

There couldn`t be a better place.

How about Mars?

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

what better of a place for a publicity-hound, who's only done one thing semi-famously, to wring-out the last drops of "oooh!-ness" by croaking in Antarctica? he can't be there for any possible reason except "gee, wouldn't it be great if we had him in the Antarctic and built a show around it?". either THAT or "hey - I'm famous and I wanna go to Antarctica. who'll pay my way?".

I don't HOPE anything happens to him, but if it DOES then just stack him in the vehicle shed and wait for the next scheduled transport - he'll keep.

Re:What

[epyT-R]

Manning the weapons chair at the ancient outpost, duh..

Re:What

[wbr1]

Yep.. spacenutters... what a way to refer to people who want to expand mankind's knowledge and abilities.

Re:What

[Culture20]

What is Buzz Aldrin doing at the South Pole?

He was visiting the aliens who live inside the hollow portion of the world at the neutral zone next to the polar opening.

Re:What

[PvtVoid]

I dare ya.

That made my whole day.

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

I wonder how they think polar orbiting satellites work?

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

And quit trolling this "Space Nutters" crap already, it's neither funny or clever.

Re:What

[caseih]

Your comments indicate complete ignorance as to why he's there and how he got there. Applicant for what exactly? Rejected by whom? Why would he have been there in the winter? I think you may be operating under some mistaken assumptions here.

The only thing we can debate regarding this is whether we should continue to allow antarctic tourism in general. I know tourists have been traveling to Antarctica by ship for years, mostly sticking to the western coast along the antarctic peninsula. I had no idea tour groups were going all the way to the south pole. How cool is that! Though potentially dangerous and irresponsible, and possibly a detriment to the research that is being done there. Much like ISS tourism, but a little cheaper.

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

maybe the taxpayers that have to foot the bill for transportation down there, keeping another touristy meatbag alive in that environment, and NOW an expensive emergency haul-his-ass-outta-there-so-he-doesn't-die-on-OUR-hands trip? maybe?

Re:What

[CrimsonAvenger]

Or, just as likely, they're pulling your chain and getting a good laugh at your expense...

Re:What

[ChrisMaple]

The weather may be tough, but the sun is shining. I think that's a big advantage.

Re:What

[Howitzer86]

Thumb tacked to the firmament.

Re:What

[MightyMartian]

He's a bloody national hero. I can think of a lot more ludicrous things to spend tax money than airlifting one of the greatest explorers in history.

Re:What

[pipingguy]

"All these worlds are yours, except Europa. Attempt no landing there."

- some guy

Re: What

[Anonymous Coward]

Safe SPACE. I see what you did there. Let's send all the space nutters to their own safe place to save space for when we go to space. If we run out of room in space, we can go to mars where everyone will have a space safe. I mean safe place.

Re:What

[pipingguy]

What about sex? Is sex OK? Asking for a friend.

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

Also, it's summer there, so flying out is not really that big a deal. It's the winter evacuations that are near-impossible -- the plane can't be turned off or it will freeze and can't stay on the ground for more than a few minutes or it will run out of fuel. And if the weather is unfavorable I think it is just impossible to get someone out.

Re:What

[avgjoe62]

After graduating third in his class at West Point in 1951 with a degree in science, Buzz Aldrin flew 66 combat missions as an Air Force pilot in the Korean War. Then he earned a PhD at MIT. Aldrin joined NASA as an astronaut in 1963. In 1966 he flew in the Gemini 12 spacecraft on the final Gemini mission.

Aldrin accompanied Neil Armstrong on the first moon landing in the Apollo 11 mission, becoming the second person, and now the first of the living astronauts, to set foot on the moon. Aldrin had taken a home Communion kit with him, and took Communion on the lunar surface, but did not broadcast the fact. Aldrin retired from NASA in 1971 and from the Air Force in 1972. He later suffered from clinical depression and wrote about the experience, but recovered with treatment. Aldrin has co-authored five books about his experiences and the space program, plus two novels.

The above from mentalfloss. When you do that AND are one of only twelve people to have walked on another world then you can talk about who is "semi-famous".

Re:What

[jamiesan]

Are you assuming her Gender?

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

This year they mixed it up, voting in someone who's incompetent but not popular.

Re: What

[Anonymous Coward]

I'd prefer to leave the planet well rather than badly.

Re:What

[K. S. Kyosuke]

Not unless Scientologists are anti-santa.

Maybe, as Scientologists, they are anti-Establishment Santa-Clause?

Re: What

[Anonymous Coward]

Venus needs trolls, and the hot-springs are lovely this time of year. I'm sure if you ask nicely enough all the users here will happily crowd-fund your ass to Venus.

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

The only thing we can debate regarding this is whether we should continue to allow antarctic tourism in general.

I would appreciate you not interfering with my freedom of movement, because an old fart screwed things up. I`ve been to Antarctica and wanna go back. Please stay outta my way, you self-righteous prick.

Thanks.

Re:What

[Enigma2175]

Agreed, he's not killing elephants like the fucking ex-king of spain or killing liions like that bastard california dentist.

Minor nitpick, I think you mean Minnesota dentist, not California dentist.

Source: http://www.startribune.com/zim...

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

You weren't paying much attention this election season were you? People angry at corrupt politicians/business interests voted in the human embodiment of corruption and (slightly different) business interests believing he would "drain the swamp". Given this fundamental lack of critical thinking skills I have little difficulty believing that the more extreme elements of this subset of society (as well as the "left" psychos) could buy into various crazy beliefs like there being some vast conspiracy to "trick" people into believing that the planet was flat instead of round.

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

Yup. If it was up to 110010001000 we would have never landed on the moon. The worst thing about 110010001000 is they make noises of respecting liberty and freedom of thought. Yet they attack anyone who shows the least interest in making up their own mind about things. The good news is history is full of people who made proclamations like 110010001000. They said things like:

Manned flight is impossible. Space flight is impossible. Landing on the moon and returning is impossible. Heavier than air flight is impossible.

Yet they are all possible. We could have a viable colony on mars if we wanted. We could have done it thirty years ago if we had really wanted to. Yet anyone who talks about using a very modest amount of resources to go to mars is a space-nutter according to 110010001000.

Re:What

[Oligonicella]

When substituting "The world has" for "Americans have" you wind up with an equally valid statement.

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

It's an actual tourist trip he took. As in he paid for his own transportation, his stay, and everything. The cost is over $60k, and you're required to buy insurance also. I've looked into it and want to one day go there myself, anyone with enough money can go and it doesn't cost taxpayers anything.

Re: What

[Anonymous Coward]

LOL... you made a typical NASA mistake there confusing imperial and metric measurements. You mean 100F, because if it was 100C then all the water on the moon would boil away.

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

Trump wants to re-align nasa to focus only on space, instead of earth based stuff. Sounds like a boon for space to me...

Re: What

[Anonymous Coward]

He should have brought a jacket too

Re:What

[Applehu Akbar]

"No matter how fit he is, I think visiting the south pole aged 86 its taking awesomeness a bit too far."

Why? Compared to the moon, the temperatures on the south pole are quite toasty.

The South Pole may be a flat place, but it's at over 2800m, or 9300 ft. I understand that Aldrin's problem was getting oxygen at that altitude.

I met Aldrin once, at a conference in Tucson years ago. A truly awesome guy, but age means increasing physical limitations.

Re:What

[blindseer]

The tourists that go on these trips buy insurance for things like this. It is quite possible that the company that organized the trip will pay for any costs incurred.

Also, military rescue people live for this kind of thing. They are required to have so much training every year in case there is a military need for such a rescue effort. I'd rather they practice on real people, saving real lives, to get that training rather than have to pay for them to do their training on mannequins.

If we are going to hold some kind of vote on if the taxpayers should pay for this then I'll vote for this to be funded in part by my tax bill.

Also, the US Coast Guard goes out all the time to keep people from wining the Darwin Awards, I don't get upset about that either. Call it training, call it international outreach, call it being a member of the human race. Call it what you will but just don't call it a waste of taxes.

Re: What

[Anonymous Coward]

Can't we just agree that dentists are bastards?

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

John Snow! The king in the ...er... South!

Re:What

[Immerman]

If it's just okay, you might be doing it wrong ;-)

Whether it increases your risk of dying depends on the individual - it's good exercise, but can be a lot of strain to put on an ailing heart.

Re: What

[Anonymous Coward]

Wait... you think there's water on the moon...

Re: What

[TheConway]

It would boil away at a much lower temperature than 100C. Lower air pressure.

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

interestingly John Kerry was also at the So. Pole at the time of the election in Nov. he must have barely missed being in Christ Church for the big quake.
WHAT ARE THEY DOING THERE? wikileaks see assange's post on Halloween it was full of hashtags #PodestaPumpkin #Exo #ETI #ExoPolitics ...
Lots of interesting things in his twitter feed: https://twitter.com/michaelsalla

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

"blindseer" { how ironic :) look up Edgar Mitchell (he went to the Moon too) See Phoenix Lights
#PIzzaGate

Re:What

[Anonymous Coward]

Working at the Stargate, duh! ;)

Re:What

[strikethree]

... one of the greatest explorers in history.

Your statement hit me hard. I would go so far as to say that he and Neil are the greatest explorers in history. Think about it: No other life form can get out of this gravity well on purpose. They touched a completely alien world. How much greater can you get? You can not.

Something about the moon landing brings tears (not of sadness) to my eyes. It is an enduring milestone for the entire human race.

Re:What

[strikethree]

Flat earth believers are willfully ignorant. As such, I can not even find the time to give them the time of day.

Re:What

[RockDoctor]

Obviously Buzz Aldrin disagrees with you on that point. And of the two people in that disagreement, I'd be more inclined to take Aldrin's opinion on Aldrin's fitness to visit the south pole then your opinion. On the other hand, I'll accept your opinion over Buzz's on whether you should use super-soft arse-wipe or ultra-soft.

Re:What

[sr180]

Not only is it the altitude, but there is less atmosphere at the poles, because it bulges around the equator.

Re:What

[Rakarra]

"Space Nutters" was always a stupid charge to make, but some people here take that very seriously.

Re:What

[Rakarra]

This year they mixed it up, voting in someone who's incompetent but not popular.

That's what happens when you get two "incompetent but not popular" figures in the final election.

Re:What

[Rakarra]

This is why you troll people on the Internet, not to their face.

Re:What

[Coren22]

I would say four incompetent and not popular figures...

Re:What

[Coren22]

If that were to happen, who would launch weather sats, survaillance sats, and earth monitoring sats?

Re:What

[Coren22]

Hmm, I don't know what movie you are referring to (The Stargate TV series?), but this made me think, maybe he was looking for the pyramid from Alien vs Preditor so that he could find the cure for old age like the CEO of the Weyland corp.

Re:What

[Rakarra]

Yeah, Jill and Gary seemed to have no idea what the President does. That's what sucked the worst. The only other person on the ballot in my state was the Peace and Freedom Party candidate.

Maybe time to hang up his boots?

[amalcolm]

I'm sure he's fitter that most of us, but the South pole is an unforgiving place.

Re:Maybe time to hang up his boots?

[geekmux]

I'm sure he's fitter that most of us, but the South pole is an unforgiving place.

At 86 years old, Earth is an unforgiving place.

Re:Maybe time to hang up his boots?

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm sure he's fitter that most of us, but the South pole is an unforgiving place.

At 86 years old, Earth is an unforgiving place.

You clearly don`t know a guy named Clint Eastwood.

Re:Maybe time to hang up his boots?

[Anonymous Coward]

Clint? He's just damaged in the head these days.

Re:Maybe time to hang up his boots?

[geekmux]

I'm sure he's fitter that most of us, but the South pole is an unforgiving place.

At 86 years old, Earth is an unforgiving place.

You clearly don`t know a guy named Clint Eastwood.

Of course I know Philo Beddoe. Only man alive who gives Chuck Norris a run for his money.

Re:Maybe time to hang up his boots?

[Anonymous Coward]

You're one of those young earthers. Where I disagree is, the earth is clearly 42 years old!

Re:Maybe time to hang up his boots?

[SScorpio]

Exactly, it was supposed be 45 years old but you know how government contract jobs always run over in both time and money.

I'm still amazing how accurate they were able to recreate everything even after the last one blew up.

Just remember to be careful on where you post information about this, we can't let the people who were considered to stupid know about it hear this, remember that it was decided that would cause wide spread panic.

Re:Maybe time to hang up his boots?

[CrimsonAvenger]

we can't let the people who were considered to stupid know about it hear this,

Written by someone who can't spell "too stupid to"....

Re:Maybe time to hang up his boots?

[SScorpio]

Yup dyslexia and ADHD which cause reading and writing issues can be found in extremely intelligent people.

Really, another?

[Rei]

You can officially go F*** yourself, 2016.

Re:Really, another?

[Progman3K]

That was my thought as I read this too, Rei. Let's hope we're both wrong

Re:Really, another?

[Anonymous Coward]

2016 has been shitty for me. F-you 2016.

"Haul" him?

[CohibaVancouver]

At that point ski-equipped LC-130 cargo planes flown by the 109th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard will haul him to New Zealand "as soon as possible

"Haul him?" He's not a reefer full of fresh strawberries...

Re:"Haul" him?

[Pascoea]

If he's in a box, technically "haul" would an accurate verb.

Re:"Haul" him?

[marklark]

If he was a bunch of strawberries, he never would have made it on the plane. The people in charge of the Antarctic logistics put a very low priority on "freshies" (and personal mail).

BTW, it was a pleasure flying with the NY Air Nat'l Guard.

Re:"Haul" him?

[PPH]

The airlines' refer to passengers as SLF (self loading freight).

Re:"Haul" him?

[Impy the Impiuos Imp]

Yes...but if fresh strawberries came in in load, there would probably be a stampede.

Anyway, if I were him and died there, I would want by body bagged and buried inward towards the pole a little with a sign that said, "Do not touch until tech can resurrect me k thx bie."

Re:"Haul" him?

[Anonymous Coward]

"Hauled" is fairly accurate in this case.

I've ridden with the 109th on their ski-equipped LC-130s - I've been in the field in Greenland, but not Antarctica - and you definitely feel more like freight than like a passenger. The seats, such as they are, are basically canvas benches running along the sides of the plane - one on the left, one on the right, with you facing the center where pallets get loaded. And there's no real insulation, which means you either wear earplugs or you spend the hours listening to a high-pitched squeal that's constantly at 100-110 dB (you can hear the same squeal on commercial airliners, but it's quiet enough to be background noise).

What's funny was the one time I was on one a (non-ski) LC-130 which was equipped with something more akin to normal aircraft seating - they had the types of chairs you might find on a flight by United or Delta, however they were bolted onto a pallet! So in theory they could've just dumped all their passengers, all at once, by opening the back of the plane and unhooking the pallet.

Why not?

[sjbe]

"Haul him?" He's not a reefer full of fresh strawberries...

He's cargo. The term fits.

You're old

[Anonymous Coward]

This is what happens when there's no serious anti-aging research. Deal with it.

Re:You're old

[geekmux]

This is what happens when there's no serious anti-aging research. Deal with it.

Our fragile planet holds a rather finite amount of resources.

Policies that legalize killers like cigarettes and alcohol and do not support anti-aging research is in fact dealing with it, on a MUCH larger scale.

Death. It's not just part of life. It's policy.

Re:You're old

[Anonymous Coward]

Then you could also use that logic to tell Space Nutters to stop worrying about the entire species, and the Death Asteroid, for example.

Re:You're old

[Immerman]

You're conflating survival of the species with the indefinite survival of the individual.Slightly different issues.

We (and everything else on the planet) are the result of a billion-plus years of unbroken successes of the first one. Nobody has ever managed the second.

You tell me which is more reasonable to be concerned with.

Re:You're old

[Anonymous Coward]

Your personal religion should not and will not dictate how humanity goes forward. No species has lasted forever either. Where do you get the right from to think it does? Then I invoke the same right to want to live longer.

After all, I'm sure you live a comfortable Western lifestyle, which also extended your life compared to what your precious species has had historically. I don't see you giving up your personal Western lifestyle for the greater good either.

So take your holier-than-thou sci-fi delusion and shove it up your ass.

Re:You're old

[Anonymous Coward]

Sunlight, carbon, iron, water... they're all reuseable.

The problem isn't that resources are finite, it's that we're using them wrong.

Re:You're old

[geekmux]

Sunlight, carbon, iron, water... they're all reuseable.

The problem isn't that resources are finite, it's that we're using them wrong.

Smog, radiation, chemical waste....they're all toxic to the Earth, so let's not pretend the damage we humans cause is dismissed with recycling.

Resources are finite, to include the longevity of our planet and its natural ability to sustain life.

Re:You're old

[Coren22]

Somehow, I don't think any of those things you mention would be fatal to the planet Earth. It would take a planet to "kill" the Earth.

editing

[Anonymous Coward]

Emergency is not an adverb.

Re:editing

[Anonymous Coward]

Emergincily? Am I doing it right?

Buzz Kill

[Anonymous Coward]

Buzz posted from his social media two days ago it was a tourist trip. Unfortunately, people in their 80's can get sick.

Re:Buzz Kill

[Anonymous Coward]

His social media? Buzzfeed?

Re:Buzz Kill

[Nidi62]

His social media? Buzzfeed?

No, that's the website for his catering company

Re:Buzz Kill

[Rei]

Hmm, then what's the name of his social media feed? "Buzzwords"? "The Daily Buzzbomb"?

Re:Buzz Kill

[Rei]

Hopefully not "Never Mind The Buzzcocks" ;)

Re:Buzz Kill

[avgjoe62]

I just had this image of Buzz sitting next to the other tourists, looking around and saying, for the umpteenth time, "Well, yeah, this is interesting, but I was on the Moon. The freaking MOON! Yeah, it's cold here, but on the Moon you couldn't even breathe!" and all of the other tourists rolling their eyes.

Re:Buzz Kill

[Anonymous Coward]

That will teach him to believe Tripadvisor reviews.

Re:Buzz Kill

[Dutch Gun]

Ok, that made me laugh. Sorry, no mod points at the moment or you'd get a +Funny.

I do hope he's okay though.

Buzz was KO'ed at the Thriller in the Chiller

[OffTheLip]

Rematch of Buzz vs Bart Sibrel?

Grammar Nazi to the rescue

[nullgreen]

It's "urgently evacuated", for crying out loud. "Emergency" is only a noun.

Re:Grammar Nazi to the rescue

[iggymanz]

I can't take an emergency leave?

Re:Grammar Nazi to the rescue

[Anonymous Coward]

It's a regular productive process in English. The absolutely normal "emergency evacuation" gets backformed into a verb phrase.
All perfectly cromulent.

Re:Grammar Nazi to the rescue

[chispito]

I can't take an emergency leave?

Yes but you cannot "emergency leave."

Re:Grammar Nazi to the rescue

[Anonymous Coward]

Not with your emergent promotion due to emerging markets.

Re:Grammar Nazi to the rescue

[iggymanz]

Google says plenty of governments disagree with you with their H.R. policies. Language is defined by use, not by language nazis.

Re:Grammar Nazi to the rescue

[chispito]

You're still not reading it correctly. You take an "emergency leave" (noun) you do not "Emergency leave" (verb) by bus.

Re:Grammar Nazi to the rescue

[iggymanz]

emergency (adjective) leave (noun)

Point was not it's not always a noun.

Lifetime Accomplishments...

[foxalopex]

Almost dying at the south pole, check! XD Seriously thou I don't see a problem with the US burning taxpayer's money to bring the guy back. He's an inspiring explorer for more than one generation. Hopefully he isn't among the last (for space), and it seems like he's not going to stop exploring till he can't do it anymore.

Re:Lifetime Accomplishments...

[T.E.D.]

Seriously thou I don't see a problem with the US burning taxpayer's money to bring the guy back. He's ...

More to the point, this is something they end up having to do all the time, with much younger people there. For example, just five months ago, two other people had to be evacuated for health reasons. Having to do this every now and this is just part of the price of operating there.

So its not like it means he's necessarily any less hardy that anyone else out there.

Well, there IS no South Pole!

[Anonymous Coward]

After all, I saw a website that told me it didn't exist because the earth is FLAT, and it had pictures and the "science establishment" were all against the truth that this website showed everyone who had an open mind on the subject!

As a sceptic himself, I'm surprised that Mr Aldrin is hiding the truth on THIS scam!

Obvious proof

[SuperKendall]

Did you head Buzz Aldrin was going to the south pole? Neither did I.

You know what this means - aliens are real, they are here, and Buzz was taking a clandestine trip to visit the secret diplomatic base we have set up for them in Antartica. The combination of his age and certain exotic gases they use to acclimate to our atmosphere led to an unfortunate reaction so they had to rush him back home for a cleansing.

It's ironic that will all of the advanced technology the aliens have and all of the information they have obtained by probing and dissecting enemies of the state, they still don't know enough about human physiology to fix Buzz there.

Good luck Buzz!

The accommodations were not to his liking

[Anonymous Coward]

and I think he underestimated how annoying life is on an arctic station for someone his age, in particular when he's gotten used to comfortable living for decades in a warm state.

Most Interesting Man in the World

[Tablizer]

[What's he doing there?] Being awesome, most likely.

Buzz is the real Most Interesting Man in the World.

Rode on the first moon landing, punched a conspiracy troll in the face, explores the Antarctic at 86, and has a cool name.

Buzz for Prezz!

Re:Most Interesting Man in the World

[TheConway]

Brian Blessed

Re:Most Interesting Man in the World

[Tablizer]

Oh, and a top fighter pilot.

Please not another one

[houghi]

Please 2016, not another one.

Re:Please not another one

[T.E.D.]

Please 2016, not another one.

2016: I've still got a whole month left. Mwahahahah!

Re:Please not another one

[R3d M3rcury]

First Florence Henderson and now this?

Secret Base

[Anonymous Coward]

He was visiting the secret Nazi base in Antarctica. It's obvious

Translation

[JustAnotherOldGuy]

Translation: "Some guy is being taken from one place to another but we really don't know anything more than that."

Re:Translation

[Anonymous Coward]

Translation: "Some guy is being taken from one place to another but we really don't know anything more than that."

We know 4 things more than that:
- The guy is freakin' Buzz Aldrin
- The place he is being taken from is freakin' Antarctica
- He's being taken to regular, non-freakin' New Zealand
- It's an emergency medical evacuation

Humanitarian?

[mysidia]

They make it sound like it's solely out of charity or special respect/privilege for Aldrin that they wouldn't routinely do such an evacuation.
Wouldn't they do this for anyone who needed evacuation for medical treatment?

Aren't flights out of Antarctica relatively routine for the summer months, anyways?

Update from New Zealand

[ukoda]

Just a quick update. It made headline news here in New Zealand. The lead story on TV news reports show him arriving at Christchurch hospital in wheelchair and looking ok. Radio news reports he had fluid on the lungs and it sounds like it should be a short hospital stay.

Re:Update from New Zealand

[dargaud]

The South Pole is at high altitude, so it looks like he had pulmonary oedema. Classic there. And, yes, I've been there.

Re:Update from New Zealand

[Anonymous Coward]

Awesome! Speedy recovery Buzz!

To Antarctica!

[jamiesan]

And Beyond!

God Speed You Buz, just a question

[LifesABeach]

What's in NZ that AUS doesn't have?

Re:God Speed You Buz, just a question

[Anonymous Coward]

A natural environment slightly less hell-bent on killing you?

Re:God Speed You Buz, just a question

[Kotukunui]

Simple answer : Proximity to Antartica. The Operation Deep Freeze base is in Christchurch, New Zealand. The great majority of flights to the great southern continent are via Christchurh.

Re:God Speed You Buz, just a question

[Rei]

Intelligent car-damaging flesh-eating parrots?

Re:God Speed You Buz, just a question

[Anonymous Coward]

Simple answer : Proximity to Scott Base.

FTFY.

*Closest point to Antarctica == Argentina/Chile

Nazi base

[Anonymous Coward]

He's chilling with his Aryan brothers at the nazi base down there. Yes the Nazi's still occupy the south pole.

Buzz Aldrin will be the first famous person...

[istartedi]

Buzz Aldrin will be the first famous person to walk on 2017. He'll just hit 2016 with a hammer. That's how astronauts fix things. Get well soon, and God speed.

Who cares?

[Anonymous Coward]

A piece of meat that was sent to the moon almost 50 years ago is being flown out of Antarctica. So what? I'm sure this is important for the fb friends of this slab of flesh, but why should anyone else care?