Today we say goodbye reluctantly, but with great pleasure, to Michael Collins. The NASA astronaut died on April 28, 2021 at the age of 90. Collins flew on the historic Apollo 11 mission in 1969 and also on Gemini 10 in 1966.
As a command module pilot, Collins was the only member of the Apollo 11 crew to remain in orbit while his astronauts were the first to land and leave on the moon. But his lovable manner means that he will be most remembered for his wit and humor, passion and humility, unwavering demeanor, thoughtful reflection and inspiring words as the author of several books.
Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins. Image Credit: GeekoutNewYork
Collins always felt like one of the happiest people who ever lived. “Usually you’re either too young or too old to do what you really want,” he said in a 2009 interview with himself. “But remember, Neil Armstrong was born in 1930, Buzz Aldrin in 1930, and Mike Collins in 1930. We came at just the right time. We have survived and succeeded in dangerous careers. But in my case, at least, it was 10 percent smart planning and 90 percent blind luck. Put HAPPINESS on my tombstone. “
Collins died after battling cancer, according to his family’s testimony:
“We regret to announce that our beloved father and grandfather passed away today after a valiant battle with cancer. He spent his last days peacefully with his family by his side. Mike always met the challenges of life with grace and humility and faced this, his final challenge, in the same way. We will miss him terribly. But we also know how happy Mike was to have lived the life he did. We will grant his wish to celebrate this life, not to mourn. Please join us lovingly and joyfully in his keen wit, calm sense of intent, and wise perspective he gained both by looking back at Earth from the perspective of space and looking out over calm waters from the deck of his fishing boat has won from. “
Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin examine films made from their mission. Photo credit: NASA
NASA remembered Collins as “a true pioneer and lifelong advocate of exploration,” said acting NASA Administrator Steve Jurczyk in a statement, and as a “tireless promoter of space …”. He has undoubtedly inspired a new generation of scientists, engineers, test pilots and astronauts. “
During the Apollo 11 flight, Collins was described as “the loneliest man in history” as he flew alone and orbited to the other side of the moon, even cut off from radio communication with Earth. But he said he felt part of the mission all the time.
“I have the world in my window.”
Michael Collins took this photo of the lunar module returning to the command module after landing on the moon. With the earth in the background, all of humanity can be seen in this photo, except for Collins himself. Pic.twitter.com/5StJrvzB0T
– NASA Moon (@NASAMoon) April 28, 2021
“I don’t want to deny a feeling of loneliness,” he said. “It is there, reinforced by the fact that radio contact with the earth is abruptly broken the moment I disappear behind the moon. I am alone now, really alone, and utterly isolated from every known life. It’s me. If counted, the score would be three billion plus two on the other side of the moon, and one plus God knows what on this side. “
Collins was an Air Force pilot before he was elected an astronaut in 1963. He never flew again after Apollo 11, but he didn’t complain about his chance of walking on the lunar surface.
“As an astronaut, I always thought I had the best job in the world and I still think so,” he said, “but for me it was over when it was over.”
Even so, he said he would look up and see the moon and think, “Oh my god! I was there!’ I was up there you see Despite all these years, this somehow surprises me. “
Astronaut Michael Collins in a model of the Apollo 11 spacecraft during training. Photo credit: NASA
Collins left NASA in 1970 and joined the State Department. He then became director of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. He also started writing about his experiences. Carrying Fire: An Astronaut’s Travels was a bestseller and is often considered one of the best astronaut autobiographies. He also wrote “Flying to the Moon and Other Strange Places” (1976), a children’s book about his experiences, “Liftoff: The Story of America’s Space Adventures” (1988), a story of the American space program “Mission to Mars”. ”(1990), a non-fiction book on human space travel to Mars. Collins was also an artist, painting watercolor landscapes.
Astronaut Michael Collins took photos of spacecraft Gemini 10 during the mission in Earth orbit. Photo credit: NASA
Not only did Collins consider himself lucky, he never missed the opportunity to thank the hundreds of thousands of people who worked in the early days of the US space program and ultimately made it possible to send astronauts to the moon.
“This journey from us to the moon may have looked easy or easy to you,” he said in a transmission to Mission Control on the journey from the moon back to earth in 1969. “I want to assure you that it did not. This operation resembles the periscope of a submarine. All you see is the three of us, but beneath the surface there are thousands and thousands of others and, I would like to say, thank you all. “
Official crew photo of the Apollo 11 crew. Left to right are the astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Commander; Michael Collins, command module pilot; and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., pilot of the lunar module. Photo credit: NASA
Personally, I have always been inspired by Mike Collins and feel that we have now lost a true national treasure. A few years ago I wrote a song about him called “Who’s Flying the Ship When Mike Collins Goes to Sleep?” You can listen to it here. The song is a retrospective, if not whimsical, look at the Apollo 11 mission through the eyes of the young girl I sat in front of the television in 1969 and watched the story.
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