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Amanda Edwards / Getty Images
Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin and his wife Lois pose for pictures at a Beverly Hills reception on June 7. The couple separated a week later.
On the California celebrity gossip scale, Apollo 11 moonwalker Buzz Aldrin's breakup with his wife of 23 years, Lois Driggs Cannon Aldrin, may not rate as high as the troubles of Hugh Hefner or Arnold Schwarzenegger. But Aldrin is one of the best-known celebrities of spaceflight, and he did make a splash on "Dancing With the Stars" last year — so the fact that his lawyer filed a petition for marriage dissolution in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday is notable.
Lois Cannon is Aldrin's third wife, and in better times the astronaut credited her with helping him through his struggle with alcoholism and depression. In Aldrin's 2009 autobiography, "Magnificent Desolation," he wrote that "every Superman needs his Lois." Her daughter, Lisa Cannon, has helped manage Aldrin's business affairs.
The divorce petition, which first came to light on the TMZ gossip website, cites "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the split.
The 81-year-old Aldrin became famous as an astronaut in the Gemini and Apollo programs, and most notably as one of the first men to land on the moon along with Apollo 11 commander Neil Armstrong in 1969. Since then, he's remained in the public eye through his efforts to promote commercial spaceflight, including contests for the general public. This March, he teamed up with another celebrity with a Ph.D., British physicist Stephen Hawking, to announce a new effort to "better mankind's future in space." He also keeps up with TV appearances, most recently on "30 Rock" and "WWE Raw Live."
On the personal side, Aldrin has three children by his first wife, Joan Archer: James, Janice and Andrew. His second wife was Beverly Zile (1975-78). Aldrin's no stranger to the gossip pages: In the past, he's made the headlines for punching out a moon-hoax gadfly, expressing admiration for lovelorn astronaut Lisa Nowak, acknowledging that he's had a facelift and suing a trading-card company. I suspect he'll get through this latest tabloid episode as well.
For more about Aldrin, check out this excerpt from "Magnificent Desolation," this 2004 interview about his ideas for space development (plus an extended Q&A), and this 2007 update (with audio).
You can connect with the Cosmic Log community by "liking" the log's Facebook page or following @b0yle on Twitter. Also, give a look to "The Case for Pluto," my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for new worlds.
Leave a Comment:
"Mr. Aldrin, why are you divorcing your wife?"
"She's been acting kind of spacy."
Once he had Green Cheese, nothing else would satisfy.
Really, this kind of tabloid "journalism" should be relegated to people like the folks at TMZ. Alan you are better than that. Granted this article is less "tabloidy" than the TMZ trash but, personally, I don't feel this article belongs in the technology and science section or on cosmic log just because the person getting divorced has been to the Moon. As a dedicated cosmic log reader I can understand why you'd want to share the news that Aldrin is splitting with his wife, but I just think that kind of story is beneath you Alan.
What about NASA's broad agency announcement seeking proposals for mission concept studies of a solar electric propulsion system demonstration? That sounds more interesting than a tabloid piece about an 81 year old divorcee. But that's just my opinion.
I kind of agree with you, Mob, but I just couldn't keep my hands off this considering how much of a space celebrity Buzz is. I'll try to make it up to you by linking to the reports about solar electric propulsion as well as developments on the Space Launch System and other geek treats.
Come now Mob, it's Friday and time for the weekend. I think we can let Alan stretch his legs out a little, so long as he doesn't throw us into the hot tub(metaphorically speaking), especially since he rarely does it. :)
Though I do see where you are coming from, at least Alan did keep it at just the facts and tastefully so, as compared to tabloids, with no speculation, rumor, scandal, or whatnot.
Mitchell
Broaden your horizons a bit. Hahaha
I'm a big fan of Alan and his Cosmic Log, but I have to agree with Mob. This belongs in the gossip column.
Mob,
This is not even tabloid quality. Shame on MSNBC for using this as a story.
Im sorry for those who do not see the truth. The space program is in disaray.
Hey economykiller, I got another one:-
"Mr. Aldrin, why are you divorcing your wife?"
"Once in a blue moon, she talks to me".
Yipes! He must have finally found her sleep pod and saucer hidden in the woods..that's an alien if ever I saw one.
Really? This is news worthy of the front page? And I can comment on this but not on the kid that got kicked out of school for wearing a dress? Really?
It is sad that the heroes who first walked in space are the butts of jokes even in this thread! But, Mr. Aldrin is not helping his case by his behavior.
Don't waste our time with this tabloid nonsense. This article has nothing to do with science, space, or society. I'm not interested in the marital life of anyone except family and my close friends.
These things happen.......
.
Buzz will probably commit suicide with his depression and most likely declining health. He sounds like a horrible person to live with. Wife #3 is probably happy to be rid of his abuse.
And why should we consider this newsworthy?
buzz aldrin should should have settle down and enjoy retirement!!!! 3 three wives?? it looks like he hasn't learned life's lessons............ maybe his kids could give him some advice?......... an old man trying to act young?
I had to laugh a little when I read that he has admitted that he had a face lift. I laughed because he really didn't have to SAY it for everyone to SEE it. He and this wife both have had a lot of face work done. She looks as if her belly button should be under her chin. So sad to see people who think going under the knife is going to help that much. Whatever happened to natural beauty and aging gracefully???
What a sad, old man. I watched him on Dancing with the Stars and would often have to turn away to escape his pathetic, childish, self-centered pride. I pray that he will find true peace before it's too late.
One of the days Alice, TO THE MOON!!
Buzz Aldrin is a self-centered petty man, in my opinion, because of his well known resentment at not having been chosen to be the first to step onto the moon, he intentionally and selfishly did not take one single picture of Neil Armstrong on the surface – thus assuring that all pictures of astronauts on the moons surface during this historical event would be of him alone. (Not including the very poor quality images from the automated exterior television cameras and pictures taken inside the LEM).
It is human nature to take pictures of your companions on trips to new places – we all do it, as did Armstrong and every other astronaut to walk on the moon or who has traveled to space with another person/s and a camera – so he can't use the excuse of excitement or forgetfulness because of the distraction of being on the moon, Which he most likely has. Disclaimer: (As he has shown he is prone to litigate).
All comments are my personal opinions derived from comments by others involved and from observations of Aldrin's actions.
That's an unfair criticism. Armstrong and Aldrin only had the one camera on Apollo 11, and Armstrong - considered the best photographer of all the moonwalkers - kept it almost the entire time. My quick skimming of the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal suggests that Aldrin had it for only 20 to 25 minutes of the entire 2.5-hour moonwalk, and for much of that time he had specific instructions on what he was supposed to be photographing.
Heavy is the head that wears a crown, fame and past glory always lets you down. It's hard to top walking on the Moon. His wife has had her share of plastic surgery. She looks like Mae West in the later years.
23 deleted, Watson! beginning a new thread by calling another Viner a 'dimwitted loser' - part of a streak that took up much of the weekend.
You're suspended for a week for violating #1 of the Code of Honor.
I fail to see why this is any of our buisness. I'm sorry Alan but this is really rather beneath you.
I am amazed at all of these comments. I agree that , this story certainly does not belong here. Take it from one that knows. I believe that Buzz will go back to Lois. However these comments are interesting , because he is truly very self centered. I happrn to believe that Lois has been the best thing that has happened to him.
I just finished his second book and can't believe that after 30 years it would end this way. It's hard to say what happened to him after the moon landing, but I guess we all carry our personal demons in some form. I pray the best for both of them.