NASA Pays Rich Tribute To Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins

NASA Pays Rich Tribute To Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins.

On Thursday, NASA paid a rich tribute to Michael Collins, the American astronaut who was the command module pilot for the Apollo 11 mission to the moon. Collins, 90, passed away Wednesday after battling cancer, his family said. Sharing a photo on Instagram, NASA said Collins clicked on the image, who spent seven years of his astronaut career with them. The photograph shows the lunar module, “Eagle”, returning to the command module, “Columbia”, after landing on the Moon. Earth can be seen in the background of the image. NASA said the image had all of humanity except Collins, who captured it.

Collins kept the command module flying while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon. “We remember Michael Collins, @NASA astronaut and Apollo 11 crew member, who passed away on April 28, 2021,” NASA said.

In the post, NASA also cited what Collins had said during a broadcast to Mission Control on the return trip to Earth from the Moon on July 21, 1969. “This trip of ours to the Moon may have seemed to you, for you, simple or easy. … All you see is the three of us, but below the surface, there are thousands and thousands of other people, and to all whom I would like to say, thank you very much ”.

NASA further shared what mission control stated during Apollo 11. “Since Adam, no human has known the loneliness that Mike Collins is experiencing during the 47 minutes of each lunar revolution when he is behind the Moon with no one with him. speak except his tape recorder board on the Columbia. While he waits for his comrades to go back with Eagle from Tranquility Base and join him for the journey back to Earth, Collins, with the help of the flight controllers here at the Mission Control Center has kept the Command Module system up and running. ”

In addition, the space agency also released a statement, saying the nation had lost a “true pioneer and lifelong advocate of exploration” in Collins. NASA Administrator Steve Jurczyk said that as an Apollo 11 pilot, some referred to him as the “loneliest man in history.”

“As his colleagues walked on the Moon for the first time, he helped our nation achieve a defining milestone. He also distinguished himself in the Gemini Program and as an Air Force pilot,” he said.

Jurczyk shared that Collins would say, “Exploration is not a choice, actually, it is an imperative,” adding: “What would be worth recording is what kind of civilization we Earthlings created and whether or not we ventured into other parts of the world. the Galaxy. ”

Jurczyk added that Collins’ signature accomplishments, his writing about his experiences, and his leadership at the National Air and Space Museum helped garner extensive exposure of the work of all the men and women who have helped our nation achieve greatness. in aviation and space. “There is no question that he inspired a new generation of scientists, engineers, test pilots, and astronauts.”

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