Michael Collins
Collins served as command module pilot on Apollo 11, July 16–24, 1969 — the first lunar landing mission.
Quick Facts
Collins was one of the third group of astronauts named by NASA in October 1963.
Collins completed two space flights, logging 266 hours in space–of which 1 hour and 27 minutes was spent in EVA.
Collins was pilot on the 3-day Gemini X mission, launched July 18, 1966. Gemini X traveled a distance of 1,275,091 miles.
Command Module pilot Michael Collins practices in the CM simulator on June 19, 1969, at Kennedy Space Center.
NASA
S69-31742 (July 1969) — Astronaut Michael Collins. EDITOR’S NOTE: Collins resigned from the NASA space program since this picture was taken.
The crew of the Gemini-10 spaceflight, astronauts John W. Young (left) and Michael Collins (right), arrive aboard the recovery ship USS Guadalcanal on July 21, 1966. The astronauts were picked up from the ocean, by recovery helicopter and flown to the recovery ship to begin postflight medical and technical debriefings.
NASA
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 exploration, the crew collected 47 pounds of lunar surface material for analysis back on Earth. With the success of Apollo 11, the national objective to land men on the Moon and return them safely to Earth had been accomplished.
NASA
As the Apollo 11 astronauts rehearse their lunar landing mission in simulators, they pause in front of a lunar module mockup in the Flight Crew Training Building area. From left, are Command Module Pilot Michael Collins, Commander Neil A. Armstrong, and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr.
Biography
Michael Collins
Having served as a fighter pilot and test pilot in the U.S. Air Force, Michael Collins was chosen to become an astronaut as part of NASA's third astronaut class in 1963. He went on to fly on two missions to space: Gemini X and Apollo 11.
Learn More About CollinsS69-31742 (July 1969) — Astronaut Michael Collins.
NASA
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