(CNN) Former astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk on the moon in 1969, has landed in Christchurch, New Zealand, after being evacuated from the South Pole when his medical condition deteriorated, according to a release from the National Science Foundation. He is 86 years old.
Aldrin landed at 4:25 a.m. December 2. "Upon arrival in Christchurch, the Antarctic program's logistics hub in New Zealand, Aldrin was transferred to a local medical facility," according to the foundation.
He "currently has fluid in his lungs but is responding well to antibiotics and being kept overnight for observation. His condition is stable and his manager, who is currently with him, described him being in good spirits," according to an update from luxury tourism company White Desert.
His manager, Christina Korp, said Aldrin is recovering. She also tweeted photos showing that Aldrin reached the South Pole, which was his goal.
Aldrin was part of a tourist group visiting Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station through White Desert. The trip was expected to last through December 12.
A White Desert doctor and the US Antarctic Program doctor decided an evacuation would the best precautionary measure, according to a release from the company. The tourism operator made a request for a medical evacuation to the National Science Foundation today, and it agreed.
Aldrin was placed on the first available flight to McMurdo Station, on the Antarctic coast. A US Antarctic Program doctor traveled with him. The science foundation uses cargo planes equipped with landing skis, called LC-130s, and they are operated by the 109th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard.
From McMurdo, another flight took Aldrin to New Zealand. Aldrin's family was notified. Earlier this week, Aldrin shared updates on his trip to the South Pole on his Instagram account.
Aldrin's friend and colleague Scott Parazynski, a five-time shuttle astronaut, has participated in 19 research expeditions to the South Pole, Everest and other locations. He once oversaw healthcare for the US Antarctic Program and has assisted with telemedicine efforts there.
"Many visitors to the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station have difficulty with the abrupt change in altitude -- depending on the temperature and atmospheric pressure, it can feel like 11,000 feet above sea level, where there's a dramatic reduction in the amount of oxygen in each breath," Parazynski said in a statement to CNN. "High altitude-related illnesses, including Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and less commonly High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) have been reported in new arrivals to the station, in some cases requiring medical evacuation to McMurdo Station and points north.
"While I cannot speculate on my friend and colleague Buzz Aldrin's unique situation, given that he flew from sea level to the South Pole and reportedly developed lung issues soon thereafter, moderately severe AMS or even HAPE might be the underlying cause. It sounds like they were able to MEDEVAC him to New Zealand very quickly, which is great news. When Antarctic participants develop serious illness in the middle of horrible weather, or during the long Austral winter when flights are often not possible, telemedicine has made a huge difference in many patients' care."
White Desert specializes in Antarctic tours and has operated there for 10 years. It is a member of the International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, which was founded in 1991 with the purpose of advocating private-sector travel to the Antarctic that is safe and environmentally responsible. Amundsen-Scott is one of three year-round stations operated by the National Science Foundation in Antarctica.
Researchers there are studying the atmosphere and dark matter using two radio telescopes, as well as an observatory that monitors subatomic particles produced by black holes and other cosmic incidents.
Other medical evacuations have taken place in recent years at Amundsen-Scott and 850 nautical miles away at McMurdo Station. Americans have occupied the South Pole for research purposes since 1956. Amundsen-Scott was built in 1957 but has been updated and redeveloped over the years.