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This is what I thought.

Old spaceman = Aldrin (i.e.buzz Aldrin).

finding A = 1st letter is A.
Way = DR (Drive)

cipher = Nil (one def. in dictionary)

Taking off cipher(it's a down clue) means going up. So Nil becomes LIN.

So A + DR in LIN = ALDRIN

you can take your pick between what I and me said. But the crucial thing is that cipher can equal nil and the word is reversed.

Thank you both

Have to admire "Taking off" as a tag for reversal for down clues. Is that unique or have I missed a common cue?

it's new to me as well. I took it to be a play on the spaceman thing. Spaceships take off/go up. Quite clever really.

buzz off,minus off is polite?
(im bunged up with a sore throat and drugged up to me balls)