Astronaut Michael Collins, Apollo 11 pilot, dead of cancer at 90

[Button Pusher]

Collins piloted the Apollo 11 Command Module 69 miles from the surface while Armstrong and Aldrin landed on the moon in 1969.
Collins was later the director of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington.

 

[jimmyjames8]

Great picture. Those 3 guys were national heroes and role models of mine while growing up (which I never managed to do).

 

[Qball]

Just imagine orbiting around the moon all by yourself while your buddies were down on the surface.

Then imagine the responsibility you and your buddies had to safely dock back together to come home.

We did it six times successfully with one awesomely successful failure.

No other country has done it since that time.

Rest In Peace Mr. Collins

 

[Inglis]

RIP Brother, enjoy your life among the stats.

 

[HMP]

I had just taught about that mission yesterday, godspeed Collins

 

[Button Pusher]

Just imagine orbiting around the moon all by yourself while your buddies were down on the surface.

Then imagine the responsibility you and your buddies had to safely dock back together to come home.

We did it six times successfully with one awesomely successful failure.

No other country has done it since that time.

Rest In Peace Mr. Collins

How about that LEM ?

 

[Gator]

A true modern day pioneer.

RIP.

.

 

[Dale Gribble]

Every one of those guys had balls of steel....from Mercury to Apollo to the STS program.

 

[Windini]

One of America's greats, and an inspiration to the world, IMO. Godspeed, Astronaut.

 

[two77]

I read his autobiography many years ago, written mid 1970's. He went on to do a lot more as a real American hero. RIP

 

[9outof10mms]

How about that LEM ?

Guess you keep your job.

Here is NASA’s write up: https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/statements-on-passing-of-michael-collins/

 

[9outof10mms]

Interesting way to describe this photo that Collins took: a photo of every single human being, except for himself.

 

[Alfred]

Every one of those guys had balls of steel....from Mercury to Apollo to the STS program.

Frankly, I'm trying to imagine the reaction of any of those 60's-70's astronauts to having to wear one of Space-X's new "designer" space suits.

Unless of course, it meant not going. Even then, there would have been those that would have balked at form over function in anything flight related.

Per aspera ad astra Mike Collins.