Snoop Dogg says he was happy to rap with astronaut Buzz Aldrin, who "pushes kids to achieve their dreams" with his ShareSpace Foundation. Their rap video, and an autobiography of Aldrin, arrives today.

Enlarge NASA via AFP Picture it, July 20, 1969: A photo of Buzz Aldrin on the surface of the Moon as taken by fellow astronaut and the first man on the noon, Neil Armstrong. Apologies to American Idol's Randy Jackson, but yo, dawg, check it! MC Buzz is out of this world and in the house. And, admittedly, just a little bit pitchy. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin , 79, who has had his share of rendezvous with pop culture, launches three projects today, including a rap video that features Snoop Dogg, Soulja Boy and Quincy Jones. What can the real Buzz Lightyear be thinking? THE FIRST MOONWALK: Share your memories FUNNY OR DIE: See the 'Rocket Experience' spoof "I'm not too good at carrying a tune, but I do have rhythm," says Aldrin, who got the idea from a family member who felt the genre would have a broad reach. Aldrin's ShareSpace Foundation, which promotes science and exploration, is one of three beneficiaries of the song's iTunes sales. "I want kids interested in space. It's their future." Aldrin's triple threat, which lands today, includes the single Rocket Experience and an autobiography (with Ken Abraham), Magnificent Desolation: The Long Journey Home From the Moon (Harmony, $27). The track takes listeners back to the first lunar landing 40 years ago in July. The book plumbs Aldrin's alcoholism battles after following in Neil Armstrong 's big bootsteps. But the biggest splash may come from a video now playing on FunnyOrDie .com, Will Ferrell's comedy website. With a nod to Spinal Tap, this "making of Rocket Experience" spoof features Jones, a longtime friend, riffing about Aldrin's "great groove." "Buzz has got the biggest buzz on the streets right now," Snoop Dogg says. "He's got Talib Kweli and (me) in the studio with him, and I only work with the best." On a more serious note, the rapper says he signed on "because (Aldrin) pushes kids to achieve their dreams." Kweli says he and Snoop "both have kids, and to tell them we hung with Buzz gets your inner geek fired up." Rounding up talent to make the video was easy given Aldrin's fame, says FunnyOrDie producer Mike Farah. But persuading the astronaut — whose flag-in-hand image inspired MTV 's "moon man" video music award — to play it funny was another matter. "He wasn't into doing a comedy video at first," Farah says. "But when we heard he was rapping, that was it." As for Aldrin, he says rapping with Snoop Dogg proved almost as daunting as space. "Snoop had this great hand language going as he sang, which was hard for me," Aldrin says. "But when it comes to getting people's attention, comedy goes a long way." Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more