Dec 07, 2016 09:06 AM EST By Jane Reed, UniversityHerald Reporter

Buzz Aldrin is a household name and a hero to young kids everywhere. He is after all, an astronaut that landed on the moon.

But before Buzz Aldrin became a huge success, he was a boy like any other. He was a boy scout and earned the rank of Tenderfoot Scout. After graduating high school at Montclair, he decided to enroll at the United States Military Academy. What is interesting to note is that he turned down a full scholarship offer from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Things would have been different now if Buzz Aldrin went to MIT. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, he went on to become a Second Lieutenant in the Air Force.

In 1963, Buzz Aldrin earned a degree in astronautics from MIT and then went on to join the astronaut corps after completing his doctorate.

Now, as he recovers at a New Zealand hospital after his medical evacuation from the South Pole, the famous astronaut gets a surprise visit, cites Yahoo. NASA Deputy Administrator Dava Newman visited Buzz Aldrin.

At 86 years old, he is still on the go. He was visiting Antarctica as a tourist when he suddenly became sick. He was then immediately flown to Christchurch, New Zealand coming from the United States Antarctic research center. He was flown via air lift using the National Science Foundation's cargo plane.

According to his tour company, Buzz Aldrin had fluid in his lungs but he is now on his way to recovery when his body started responding to the treatment.

It is interesting to know that Buzz Aldrin does not suffer a shortage of friends. His NASA family and many more still remembers him and wishes him a full recovery.

If Buzz Aldrin had gone to MIT during his college years, what kind of future would the world have right now? Shout out in the comments section!

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