Buzz Aldrin, Full of Life, Says Goodbye To New Zealand But Promises To Come Back On Vacation

Buzz Aldrin, one of the two astronauts who had made the entire human race immensely proud 47 years ago, was discharged from a hospital in New Zealand on Friday (December 9) and seemed to be heading home.

Christina Korp, manager of Aldrin who will turn 87 next month, posted a photo on Twitter showing the latter relaxing and smiling sitting aboard a plane with the message "Bye Bye New Zealand! Hope to see you again! (But next time for vacation and not evacuation)."

Bye bye New Zealand! Hope to see you again! (But next time for vacation and not evacuation) pic.twitter.com/MYRFAchFmF

— Christina Korp (@Buzzs_xtina) December 9, 2016

Aldrin, the second man to walk on moon after the late Neil Armstrong in July 1969, had said earlier that he was eager to return home in Satellite Beach, Florida, for Christmas, said a CBS News report. The octogenarian was rescued from Antarctica last week after he suffered shortage of breath and showed signs of altitude weakness. He was then taken to Christchurch in New Zealand where he was admitted in a hospital. Aldrin had visited Antarctica as a tourist, reports said.

The National Science Foundation came to Aldrin's rescue by giving him an airlift via a LC-130 cargo plane from Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station to McMurdo Station. From there, he was flown to New Zealand. He has been doing a lot of travelling across the world in the recent times propagating about exploration of Mars and promoting science and space education.

On Saturday (Dec 10), Aldrin said in a statement that he had his lungs congested and was advised to take rest in New Zealand before he was physically ready to fly back to the U.S. Aldrin was visited by NASA Deputy Administrator Dava Newman at the hospital in New Zealand. Aldrin, despite his illness, did not forget to post a tribute to John Glenn, the former astronaut and senator, who passed away on Thursday (Dec 8) at the age of 95.

Saddened to hear of losing my friend and world space icon John Glenn. Here's my official statement. https://t.co/j5ScHMp132 pic.twitter.com/NBmi2z1G3b — Buzz Aldrin (@TheRealBuzz) December 9, 2016

Besides honoring Glenn on Twitter, Aldrin also posted on his website calling the former "another space pioneer and world icon".