Astronaut Buzz Aldrin is Being Emergency Evacuated From the South Pole (businessinsider.com) 192
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 (Score:3, Funny)
Re:What (Score:5, Insightful)
What is Buzz Aldrin doing at the South Pole?
Being awesome, most likely.
Re:What (Score:5, Insightful)
No matter how fit he is, I think visiting the south pole aged 86 its taking awesomeness a bit too far.
Re:What (Score:5, Funny)
Where else are they supposed to stage the first manned landing on Europa if not Antarctica?
Re:What (Score:5, Funny)
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: (Score:3)
Re:What (Score:4, Insightful)
- some guy
Re: (Score:2)
"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: (Score:2)
"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: (Score:2)
"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: (Score:2)
Not only is it the altitude, but there is less atmosphere at the poles, because it bulges around the equator.
Re: (Score:2)
Re:What (Score:5, Funny)
Being awesome, most likely.
His Instagram account [instagram.com] 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.
Most Interesting Man in the World (Score:5, Insightful)
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:What (Score:5, Insightful)
^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 (Score:5, Funny)
Or, for that matter, the POTUS's two adult sons. I always forget their names... Uday and Qusay?
Re: (Score:2)
Where are the mod points when you need them?
Re: (Score:3)
Maybe we need POTUS and PEOTUS to allow some people to differentiate during this interim period.
Re: (Score:3)
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... [startribune.com]
Re:What (Score:5, Funny)
Hiding from The news of the past year
Re: (Score:3)
Re:What (Score:4, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
Americans have a long tradition of voting incompetent but popular figures into office.
Re: (Score:2)
They've been doing it for decades.
Re: (Score:2)
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: (Score:2)
I would say four incompetent and not popular figures...
Re: (Score:2)
When substituting "The world has" for "Americans have" you wind up with an equally valid statement.
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
And, sadly, if anyone could have fixed the Stargate before the army's budget was cut, it was Aldrin.
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
"Space Nutters" was always a stupid charge to make, but some people here take that very seriously.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
If that were to happen, who would launch weather sats, survaillance sats, and earth monitoring sats?
Re: (Score:2)
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 (Score:5, Informative)
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: (Score:2)
" 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: (Score:2)
So impossible it has only been done thrice. [washingtonpost.com]
Re:What (Score:5, Insightful)
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 (Score:5, Insightful)
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 (Score:5, Insightful)
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: (Score:2)
... 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 (Score:4, Insightful)
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: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
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: (Score:2)
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 tou
Re: (Score:2)
Re:What (Score:5, Funny)
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 (Score:5, Funny)
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: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Flat earth believers are willfully ignorant. As such, I can not even find the time to give them the time of day.
Re: (Score:2)
Re:What (Score:4, Funny)
It's a hoax. He was never on the moon either.
Say that to his face. I dare ya. [youtube.com]
Re: (Score:2)
I dare ya. [youtube.com]
That made my whole day.
Re: (Score:2)
This is why you troll people on the Internet, not to their face.
Re: (Score:2)
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: (Score:2)
Not unless Scientologists are anti-santa.
Maybe, as Scientologists, they are anti-Establishment Santa-Clause?
Re: (Score:3)
Manning the weapons chair at the ancient outpost, duh..
Re: (Score:2)
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: (Score:2)
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.
Maybe time to hang up his boots? (Score:3)
Re:Maybe time to hang up his boots? (Score:4, Insightful)
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: (Score:2)
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: (Score:2)
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: (Score:2)
Written by someone who can't spell "too stupid to"....
Re: (Score:2)
Yup dyslexia and ADHD which cause reading and writing issues can be found in extremely intelligent people.
Really, another? (Score:3)
You can officially go F*** yourself, 2016.
Re: (Score:2)
That was my thought as I read this too, Rei. Let's hope we're both wrong
"Haul" him? (Score:2)
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: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
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? (Score:5, Funny)
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."
Why not? (Score:2)
"Haul him?" He's not a reefer full of fresh strawberries...
He's cargo. The term fits.
Re:"Haul" him? (Score:5, Funny)
The airlines' refer to passengers as SLF (self loading freight).
Buzz was KO'ed at the Thriller in the Chiller (Score:2)
Lifetime Accomplishments... (Score:5, Insightful)
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: (Score:3)
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 [nytimes.com] 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.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Please 2016, not another one.
2016: I've still got a whole month left. Mwahahahah!
Re: (Score:2)
First Florence Henderson and now this?
Humanitarian? (Score:2)
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 (Score:5, Informative)
Re: (Score:3)
God Speed You Buz, just a question (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
Intelligent car-damaging flesh-eating parrots? [youtube.com]
Buzz Aldrin will be the first famous person... (Score:2)
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.
Re:You're old (Score:4, Interesting)
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 (Score:4, Insightful)
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: (Score:2)
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: (Score:2)
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.
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
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: (Score:2)
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.
Re: (Score:2)
His social media? Buzzfeed?
No, that's the website for his catering company
Re: (Score:2)
Hmm, then what's the name of his social media feed? "Buzzwords"? "The Daily Buzzbomb"?
Re: (Score:3)
Hopefully not "Never Mind The Buzzcocks" ;)
Re: (Score:2)
I can't take an emergency leave?
Re: (Score:2)
I can't take an emergency leave?
Yes but you cannot "emergency leave."
Re: (Score:2)
Google says plenty of governments disagree with you with their H.R. policies. Language is defined by use, not by language nazis.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
emergency (adjective) leave (noun)
Point was not it's not always a noun.