Buzz Aldrin claims he took 'first ever selfie' in space

Has former astronaut Buzz Aldrin won the title of first space selfie?

First selfie? Astronaut Buzz Aldrin tweets first space selfie from 1966

Emma Powell21 July 2014

Ellen Degeneres took the most tweeted selfie at the Oscars and Obama and Cameron posed for a somewhat controversial selfie at Nelson Mandela’s funeral, but former astronaut Buzz Aldrin is claiming the award for the first ever space selfie.

The octogenarian tweeted the picture with the caption: “Did you know I took the first space selfie during Gemini 12 mission in 1966? BEST SELFIE EVER.”

The selfie shows Aldrin’s body sillohuetted against the back drop of the Earth. The young astronauts face is half obscured by his space helmet and he can be seen ho0lding some space related equipment.

Sensational Selfies

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Speaking in an interview with CNN the 84-year-old said that he had no idea that he was unknowingly pioneering the first selfie. He said: “I didn't realise I was pioneering the selfie.”

It comes after the former Apollo 11 astronaut was celebrating the 45th anniversary of his moon landing with Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins.