Buzz Aldrin: Leonard Nimoy, my fellow space traveler 

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Buzz Aldrin: Leonard Nimoy, my fellow space traveler

Updated 1613 GMT (0013 HKT) February 28, 2015

Leonard Nimoy had a long and successful career as an actor and director, but he\'s best known for portraying Spock in the "Star Trek" TV series and movies. Nimoy died Friday, February 27, his son Adam Nimoy told CNN. He was 83.

Perhaps Nimoy\'s highest-profile role after "Trek" was as "Fringe\'s" William Bell, a wealthy industrialist and tech genius.

After "Star Trek," Nimoy took on the role of Paris in the TV series "Mission: Impossible." His co-stars included Peter Lupus and Lesley Ann Warren.

In the late \'70s and early \'80s, Nimoy was as well known for his hosting role on "In Search Of ...," a show about the paranormal and mysterious, as he was for Spock.

Nimoy played a psychiatrist in the 1978 version of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," here with Lelia Goldoni.

Nimoy was also a successful director. He helmed two "Star Trek" films as well as "

Three Men and a Baby," the No. 1 box-office hit of 1987. Tom Selleck, from left, Steve Guttenberg and Ted Danson starred.

Nimoy appeared on "The Big Bang Theory" ... sort of. He provided the voice for an action figure of Spock owned by Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons).

Nimoy\'s voice could also be heard on a few video games, including "Civilization IV," which he narrated.

Among the other films Nimoy directed was 1988\'s "The Good Mother," starring Diane Keaton and Liam Neeson, far left.

Nimoy, who loved science, took part in NASA\'s rollout of the space shuttle Enterprise with other members of the "Star Trek" cast in 1976.

James Doohan (Scotty), William Shatner (Kirk) and Nimoy accept a Pop Culture Award for "Star Trek" during the TV Land Awards in 2003.

Nimoy promotes the "Star Trek" 40th anniversary on the TV Land network in 2006.

Nimoy drops by for a 2009 episode of "Saturday Night Live" with Zachary Quinto (who took over the Spock role in the most recent movies), Chris Pine (who played Kirk) and "SNL\'s" Seth Meyers.

Nimoy arrives with his wife, Susan Bay Nimoy, for the Los Angeles premiere of the movie "Star Trek Into Darkness" in 2013.

Buzz Aldrin: Leonard Nimoy\'s Mr. Spock seemed like the ideal companion for a space voyage

Spock\'s "live long and prosper" is iconic, as is Neil Armstrong\'s "one small step for man"

Buzz Aldrin, the NASA astronaut best known for his Apollo 11 moonwalk, holds a doctoral degree in astronautics. He is co-author with Leonard David of "Mission to Mars: My Vision for Space Exploration," published by the National Geographic Society. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his.

I was saddened to learn of the passing of Leonard Nimoy, a fellow space traveler because he helped make the journey into the final frontier accessible to us all.

Nimoy\'s Mr. Spock in the original "Star Trek" television show, followed by the series of movies, proved to be a seminal, enduring and endearing character.

While the late Neil Armstrong\'s "one small step for man," as we began our exploration of the Moon back in July 1969, is ageless, so, too, is Spock\'s iconic "live long and prosper," a phrase that also spans time and space.

It brought out the Vulcan in all of us; that, for me, translated into a peaceful progression of exploring the vastness of outer space for all mankind.

Nimoy\'s quite logical and always calm Spock struck me as an ideal person to have with us onboard a spaceship headed into the unknown. I also admit to being jealous of how much room was available on the USS Enterprise -- far from the cramped quarters allotted space travelers of past, present and future!

Fans honor Nimoy with tweets, Vulcan salute

Leonard\'s final communiqué to his fans read: "A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory," followed by "LLAP," the acronym for live long and prosper.

For all of us, Leonard Nimoy is in our collective memories as a passionate, inspirational and creative soul who beamed us all up on an enterprising voyage of exploration and discovery.

Buzz Aldrin poses next to the U.S. flag on July 20, 1969, on the moon during the Apollo 11 mission. (Photo by NASA/Liaison)

Be assured, there is a great need to reaffirm our country\'s space exploration goals. Thanks to Mr. Spock, the stage is set -- in more ways than one -- to continue our voyage outward into deep space.

During the next few years we must choose whether we rebound as a vibrant nation leading our global civilization toward a permanent presence beyond Earth, or relinquish American leadership in space.

Shatner on Nimoy: Spock would not have been the same

Shatner on Nimoy: Spock would not have been the same 02:17

I recently testified before Congress, and in my opinion, there is no more convincing way to demonstrate American leadership for the remainder of this century than on July 20, 2019, the 50th anniversary of our landing on the moon, to commit to and strive toward a permanent human presence on Mars.

Indeed, there are strange new worlds to explore -- to seek out new life and start new civilizations.

It is time to boldly go where no man -- or woman -- has gone before.

Thanks to Leonard Nimoy and his beloved Mr. Spock, the bar has been set high for us to continue humanity\'s quest to probe outward in the universe.

Buzz Aldrin: Mr. Spock, my fellow space traveler