Michael Collins
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 204
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From: united kingdom
Joined: Apr 2010
Aviation Qualifications: Military (Retired)
Posts: 958
Likes: 1,239
From: Herefordshire
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 392
Likes: 1
From: Narfalk
I have been told by others that his story telling and humour is in line with many other facets of the man. Outstanding. One of my hero's as a child and the astronaut period is only a small part of an amazing life.
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 613
Likes: 30
From: 11A
Michael Collins came across as such a wonderfully down-to-earth, easy going man. Absolutely no ego, and very matter-of-fact about the entire amazing adventure of being involved in reaching the moon. What an incredible career he had!
RIP MC.
RIP MC.
Joined: Jul 2013
Aviation Qualifications: Non-Aircrew
Posts: 5,683
Likes: 3,358
From: Everett, WA
Fareastdriver - he comments on that in his book - said he didn't feel lonely at all.
When I was born, there was no one alive who had been in the primarily gravitational influence of another heavenly body. That changed in December, 1968 with Apollo 8. Of course, in July 1969 there were humans alive that had actually walked on another planetary object.
I fear that, by the time I die, there again be no one alive who has been in the primary gravitational influence of another heavily body...
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 151
From: A better place.
Someone described being struck by the appearance of the Apollo stack when you see it for real, noting the strength yet fragility of the Saturn, command module and LEM seemed "...like an ICBM crossed with a light aircraft."
To travel so far and so fast with such risk takes a special kind of courage.
Vale sir.
To travel so far and so fast with such risk takes a special kind of courage.
Vale sir.
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 911
Likes: 334
From: uk
I agree that he wrote the best book. He was a great writer with a well developed sense of humour. Unlike most of the astronauts he had a tertiary qualification in English (as well as all the test pilot stuff!). Some wry and subtle asides on the Neil / Buzz dynamic. What a guy and what a life! RIP.
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 422
Likes: 21
From: Where the heart belongs
Someone described being struck by the appearance of the Apollo stack when you see it for real, noting the strength yet fragility of the Saturn, command module and LEM seemed "...like an ICBM crossed with a light aircraft."
To travel so far and so fast with such risk takes a special kind of courage.
Vale sir.
To travel so far and so fast with such risk takes a special kind of courage.
Vale sir.
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Joined: Feb 1997
Posts: 4,914
Likes: 184
From: Duit On Mon Dei
I have several copies of Carrying the Fire. My favourite book. I love the fact it's not been ghost written. His very dry sense of humour and deprecating manner comes across in many interviews both old and recent. The fact he was carrying a fish nailed to a plaque to give to Guenter Wendt before the launch of Apollo XI just shows his cheeky irreverence.
I'm sure he's now off fishing with Neil Armstrong.
I'm sure he's now off fishing with Neil Armstrong.
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,646
Likes: 766
From: Australia
Can only add my like to the comments on Michael Collin's book. Very humble and gave the impression that he always felt that he just stumbled into the astronaut program. Hard to believe that these legends are now passing away and that they launched over 50 years ago, yet today we are still stuck in earth orbit.
Gentleman Aviator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 3,722
Likes: 91
From: Teetering Towers - somewhere in the Shires
They must have been well aware that there was a good chance of never returning
Brave men all - impossible to imagine now; and all with less computing power than we've got in our back pockets.
Last edited by teeteringhead; 29th April 2021 at 17:01. Reason: Sorting the "Quote"
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 232
From: In the State of Denial
I agree with all the comments regarding his autobiography, an outstanding read. I would have loved the opportunity to meet him and get him to sign my copy, a sad passing but an eventful life.
I find it interesting that he turned down the opportunity to command Apollo 17 and walk on the Moon, as events turned out he might have been the ‘last man on the Moon’ instead of Gene Cernan. No longer the ‘forgotten astronaut’ in that event.
Instead he chose to spend more time with his family, as well as the fact that his wife wanted to leave Houston (was there an ultimatum there?) The astronauts were a driven and intensely competitive bunch so it’s not a choice many of them would have made. He was also one of the few whose marriage didn’t fail under the pressure of long hours, time away and the ‘Cape Bunnies’ throwing themselves at the astronauts, a fact probably connected to his choice.
RIP.
I find it interesting that he turned down the opportunity to command Apollo 17 and walk on the Moon, as events turned out he might have been the ‘last man on the Moon’ instead of Gene Cernan. No longer the ‘forgotten astronaut’ in that event.
Instead he chose to spend more time with his family, as well as the fact that his wife wanted to leave Houston (was there an ultimatum there?) The astronauts were a driven and intensely competitive bunch so it’s not a choice many of them would have made. He was also one of the few whose marriage didn’t fail under the pressure of long hours, time away and the ‘Cape Bunnies’ throwing themselves at the astronauts, a fact probably connected to his choice.
RIP.
Joined: Jul 2013
Aviation Qualifications: Non-Aircrew
Posts: 5,683
Likes: 3,358
From: Everett, WA
(minor trivia point: most of the Saturn at KSC is non flight-worthy 'boilerplate' hardware - the Saturn V's on display at Huntsville and Houston are made up of most of the surviving flight worthy hardware).When we walked into that hall with he Saturn, they had tables of horderves and the like along with an open bar. Most of the attendees headed straight for the food and drink - but my boss (who was nearly as big of space nerd as I am) and I simply walked around the Saturn taking pictures with our phones (I did eventually grab a beer
). At one point, my recently re-married boss's wife called - when he told her what he was doing she responded "Oh great, you're not going to interested in sex for a week" 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 232
Likes: 2
From: UK
There is a petition on Change.org to name the lunar gateway after astronaut Michael Collins: rename lunar gateway to Collins Gateway seems very fitting since he orbited the moon awaiting the return of the first moonwalkers
Joined: Feb 2002
Aviation Qualifications: AME
Posts: 4,184
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From: UK
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 258
Likes: 16
From: Canberra
Many (many) years ago a work colleague was at the Smithsonian asking questions about the Apollo program. The guide(?) said he couldn’t answer but knew some one who could.
My colleague said he was taken up to an office and spent about 45 minutes talking to a very amiable Mike Collins.
My colleague said he was taken up to an office and spent about 45 minutes talking to a very amiable Mike Collins.