---
title: "Buzz Aldrin Calls For “Great Migration of Humankind to Mars”"
description: "In an op-ed for The Washington Post, astronaut Buzz Aldrin urges America's leaders to chart a path to put humans on Mars — and not just a few of us."
date: "2019-05-02"
modified: "2019-05-02"
authors:
  - name: "Kristin Houser"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/kristin.md"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/buzz-aldrin-great-migration-humankind-mars"
categories:
  - "Astronomy"
  - "Mars"
  - "Space"
tags:
  - "buzz aldrin"
  - "mars"
  - "mars colonization"
  - "the digest"
---

# Buzz Aldrin Calls For “Great Migration of Humankind to Mars”

![In an op-ed for The Washington Post, astronaut Buzz Aldrin urges America's leaders to chart a path to put humans on Mars — and not just a few of us.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/buzz-aldrin-great-migration-humankind-mars.png>)
*\<em\>Image: Shutterstock\</em\>*

## Great Migration

Fifty years ago, astronaut Buzz Aldrin became the second human to walk on the Moon. Now, he's urging the United States to make putting [people on Mars](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-first-human-mars-woman.md>) a national priority — and he's not talking about just a few lucky astronauts.

"The United States' eyes — and our unified commitment — should focus on opening the door, in our time, to the great migration of humankind to Mars," Aldrin wrote in a newly published [op-ed for *The Washington Post*](<https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/05/01/buzz-aldrin-its-time-focus-great-migration-humankind-mars/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.79bd17bff75f>).

## We Explore

In the *WaPo* piece, Aldrin notes his gratitude toward the Trump administration for committing to crewed [missions to the Moon](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-head-moon-stay.md>).

But those missions should not be the ultimate goal, the astronaut wrote — instead, they should serve to help us define a [path to Mars](<https://futurism.com/3d-printed-space-habitat-challenge-nasa-winners.md>).

"As matter of orbital mechanics, missions from Earth to Mars for migration are complex," Aldrin wrote. "That said, human nature — and potentially the ultimate survival of our species — demands humanity’s continued outward reach into the universe."

"Call it curiosity or calculation, strategic planning or destiny," he continued. "Put simply: We explore, or we expire. That is why we must get on with it."

**READ MORE:** [Buzz Aldrin: It’s time to focus on the great migration of humankind to Mars](<https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/05/01/buzz-aldrin-its-time-focus-great-migration-humankind-mars/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.79bd17bff75f>) \[*The Washington Post*\]

**More on Mars:** *[These 3D-Printed Mars Habitats Just Won a NASA Award](<https://futurism.com/3d-printed-space-habitat-challenge-nasa-winners.md>)*

### Author social links  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinjhouser>)

## More

- [Buzz Aldrin: Stephen Hawking Said We Shouldn’t Colonize Mars Yet](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/buzz-aldrin-stephen-hawking-colonize-mars.md>)
- [Buzz Aldrin to NASA: To Get to Mars ASAP, Pull the Plug on The ISS](<https://futurism.com/buzz-aldrin-to-nasa-to-get-to-mars-asap-pull-the-plug-on-the-iss.md>)
- [Buzz Aldrin: It’s Time for Humans to Start Looking at Other Planets to Live On](<https://futurism.com/buzz-aldrin-its-time-for-humans-to-start-looking-at-other-planets-to-live-on.md>)
- [Buzz Aldrin Marries His Employee at the Young Age of 93](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/buzz-aldrin-marries-age-93.md>)
- [93-Year-Old Buzz Aldrin Eats Lavish Breakfast While Wearing Three Wristwatches](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/buzz-aldrin-breakfast-three-wristwatches.md>)
- [What Does the Moon Smell Like?](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/moon-smell-scent-sculptor.md>)
- [The First Selfie Ever Taken in Space Is For Sale](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-selling-first-space-selfie.md>)
- [Evolutionary Biologist: Mars Colonists Will Mutate Really Fast](<https://futurism.com/mars-colonists-mutation-evolution.md>)