What Happened to Michael Collins?

Michael Collins was born on October 31, 1930, in Rome, Italy, where his father was serving as a U.S. military attaché. Following a family tradition of military service, he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1952 and joined the U.S. Air Force, becoming a fighter pilot and later an experimental test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base. His early career honed the skills that would prove essential for spaceflight.

Collins was selected as part of NASA's third group of astronauts in 1963. His first spaceflight was on Gemini 10 in July 1966, where he performed two spacewalks and demonstrated crucial rendezvous and docking maneuvers. His most famous mission, however, was Apollo 11 in July 1969. As the Command Module Pilot of 'Columbia,' Collins orbited the Moon alone for nearly 28 hours while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made history by becoming the first humans to walk on the lunar surface. His precise piloting and navigation were vital for the mission's success, ensuring the safe return of the lunar module and its crew.

After retiring from NASA in 1970, Collins embarked on a distinguished post-astronaut career. He first served as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs under President Richard Nixon. A year later, in 1971, he became the first director of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., a position he held until 1978. During his tenure, he oversaw the planning and opening of the museum's iconic main building on the National Mall in 1976, transforming it into a world-renowned institution. He also served as Undersecretary of the Smithsonian Institution and later as Vice President of LTV Aerospace, before starting his own consulting firm in 1985. Collins was also a prolific author, publishing his highly regarded autobiography, "Carrying the Fire: An Astronaut's Journeys," in 1974, among other books.

Michael Collins passed away on April 28, 2021, at the age of 90, after a battle with cancer. His family noted that he faced his final challenge with characteristic grace and humility. His ashes were interred with modified funeral honors at Arlington National Cemetery on January 30, 2023, solidifying his place among American heroes. Collins' legacy extends beyond his direct contributions to spaceflight; he was a tireless advocate for exploration and a chronicler of the space age. His impact is still recognized today, with the National Air and Space Museum awarding the Michael Collins Trophy for Current Achievement and Lifetime Achievement annually, as seen in March 2026 with honors bestowed upon the Boeing Starliner Flight Test Crew and Dr. Farouk El-Baz, respectively.