Michael collins moon photo

Michael Collins (astronaut)

American astronaut (1930–2021)

Michael Collins

Collins in 1969

Born(1930-10-31)October 31, 1930

Rome, Italy

DiedApril 28, 2021(2021-04-28) (aged 90)

Naples, Florida, U.S.

Resting placeArlington National Cemetery
EducationUnited States Military Academy (BS)
Awards
Spouse

Patricia Finnegan

(m. 1957; died 2014)​
Children3, including Kate
Relatives
Space career
RankMajor General, USAF

Time in space

11d 2h 4m
SelectionNASA Group 3 (1963)

Total EVAs

2

Total EVA time

1h 28m
MissionsGemini 10
Apollo 11

Mission insignia

In office
January 6, 1970 – April 11, 1971
PresidentRichard Nixon
Preceded byDixon Donnelley
Succeeded byCarol Laise
Years of service
  • 1952–1970 (active)
  • 1970–1982 (reserve)

Michael "Mike" Collins (October 31, 1930 – April 28, 2021) was an American astronaut who flew the Apollo 11command module Columbia around the M

Michael Collins

Apollo 11 crew members (L-R) Edwin Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and Michael Collins were amused by a question posed during a closed circuit press conference the night before they began their historic first lunar landing mission. The press conference with questions via intercom, was held under semi-isolation conditions to avoid exposing the astronauts to possible illness at the last minute. The Apollo 11 mission launched from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida via the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) developed Saturn V launch vehicle on July 16, 1969 and safely returned to Earth on July 24, 1969. Aboard the space craft were astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, Command Module (CM) pilot; and Edwin E. (Buzz) Aldrin Jr., Lunar Module (LM) pilot. The CM, “Columbia”, piloted by Collins, remained in a parking orbit around the Moon while the LM, “Eagle’’, carrying astronauts Armstrong and Aldrin, landed on the Moon. On July 20, 1969, Armstrong was the first human to ever stand on the lunar surface, followed by Aldrin. During 2½ hours of surface e

The Payload Blog


- Michael Collins on his role in the Apollo 11 mission


The world has lost an impactful proponent of space exploration and education with the passing of astronaut Michael Collins. Born in Rome, Italy, on October 31, 1930, to a career U.S. Army family, growing up, Collins traversed the United States and beyond. Ambitious and intellectual, he entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in military science. Following graduation, Collins joined the U.S. Air Force in 1952, a career that spanned 30 years as an active and reserve officer and earned him the rank of Major General. In 1960, Collins was accepted to the Experimental Flight Test Pilot School and served as a U.S. Navy Test Pilot.

Mike Collins met Patricia Finnegan at a U.S. Air Force Service Club and married her in 1957. They had three children Kate (1959), Ann (1961), and Michael (1963). Their marriage endured through his adventurous career until Patricia's passing in 2014.




Collins's inspiration to apply as a NASA astronaut was sparked by the M

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