Michael Collins: The Forgotten Astronaut of Apollo 11

Overview

Michael Collins was an American astronaut and test pilot who played a crucial role in the Apollo 11 mission, the first manned mission to land on the Moon.

Background

• Born: October 31, 1930
• Died: April 28, 2021 (at age 90)
• Nationality: American
• Role: Command module pilot

Key Facts

• Flew on two space missions: Gemini X in 1966 and Apollo 11 in 1969
• Orbited the moon alone for over 21 hours during the Apollo 11 mission
• Spent a total of 266 hours in space
• Left NASA in 1970

Contributions

Collins made significant contributions to the Apollo 11 mission, serving as the command module pilot while his crewmates Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the lunar surface. Despite not setting foot on the moon himself, his role was vital to the mission's success.