Obituary: Michael Collins – Apollo 11 Command Module Pilot

Michael Collins, born October 31, 1930 in Rome, Italy, passed away on April 28, 2021.

Collins graduated from Saint Albans School and received his BS from West Point (1952). He became an experimental test pilot at Edwards AFB, flying the F-100, F-104, and F-106 — accumulating over 5,000 hours in fighters and test aircraft.

Selected in NASA's third astronaut group in October 1963, Collins served as backup pilot for Gemini VII, then flew as pilot on Gemini X (July 18, 1966), conducting two EVAs. His defining mission came as Apollo 11 Command Module Pilot (July 16–24, 1969), orbiting the Moon while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made the first lunar landing — accumulating 266 total space hours.

Post-NASA, Collins served as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs (1970–71), first Director of the National Air and Space Museum (1971–78), and Under Secretary of the Smithsonian (1978–80). He retired as a Major General in 1982.

Honors include the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, DSM, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and Congressional Gold Medal.