Moon Mission: Apollo 11
Role: Command Module Pilot
Brief Bio: Michael Collins was an American astronaut born on October 31, 1930, in Rome, Italy, and graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1952. He flew on the Gemini 10 and Apollo 11 missions, becoming one of 24 people to fly to the Moon, and was a test pilot and major general in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.
Did you know: Michael Collins was the first person to perform two spacewalks in the same mission during Gemini 10 in 1966, a feat that highlighted his significant contribution to extravehicular activities.
Afterward: After retiring from NASA in 1970, Collins served as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, then became director of the National Air and Space Museum until 1978, later working as undersecretary of the Smithsonian Institution and vice president of LTV Aerospace before starting his own consulting firm.
Key Statements: "This venture has been structured for three men, and I consider my third to be as necessary as either of the other two."
