Slashdot Mirror
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."
What is Buzz Aldrin doing at the South Pole?
Being awesome, most likely.
Hiding from The news of the past year
i thought once I was found, but it was only a dream.
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.
No matter how fit he is, I think visiting the south pole aged 86 its taking awesomeness a bit too far.
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.
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
Or, for that matter, the POTUS's two adult sons. I always forget their names... Uday and Qusay?
People said I was dumb, but I proved them.
Where else are they supposed to stage the first manned landing on Europa if not Antarctica?
People said I was dumb, but I proved them.
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.
The airlines' refer to passengers as SLF (self loading freight).
Have gnu, will travel.
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.
One of our competitors trademarked the term "hypothesis". From now on, we will call them "boneheaded ideas".
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."
(-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
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.
I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
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!
Table-ized A.I.
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.
^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.
The guy who said the election was rigged won the presidency with the second-most votes.
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.
--- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
He walked on the Moon. If Buzz Aldrin wants to go to the South Pole, who the hell has any right to say no?
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
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.
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
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.