Michael Collins and the Columbia - Apollo 11

"f86sabre" (f86sabre) 07/20/2014 at 09:15 • Filed to: None

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Let's take a moment to remember that it wasn't just Neil, Buzz and Eagle that made up Apollo 11. Michael Collins and Columbia had a very important part to play. As Command a Module Pilot Collins took observations of the moon and acted as a communications relay to Earth when needed while Neil and Buzz landed. In addition, he would be critical in all docking maneuvers. Collins, who was the fourth American to conduct a spacewalk with Gemini 8 was also a former F-86 pilot and test pilot. He went on to join the State Department after the flight and after that he became the head of the Smithsonian.

Collins with Columbia after the mission .

Columbia

Columbia was a Block 2 Apollo command module. The seventh off the line. The modules had undergone an extensive redesign after the Apollo 1 fire. Built by North American Aviation, Columbia, by all accounts, performed very well. It now rests in a place of honor at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.

Images: NASA, Wikipedia, Air and Space Smithsonian

McMike > f86sabre 07/20/2014 at 09:35

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True story: Dad was stationed at the Pentagon, and I used to go to the POAC (Pentagon Officers' Athletic Club) sometimes after work with him to use the gym.

One time while I was there, my father introduced me to a man who was sitting in the hot tub with us and we shook hands.

It was Michael Collins, first astronaut I ever met. It was around 1980.

The Transporter > f86sabre 07/20/2014 at 09:55

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Who wants a mustache ride?

NotUnlessRoundIsFunny > f86sabre 07/20/2014 at 16:17

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Thanks for posting this; that's a dude who doesn't get enough credit. To overcome whatever he felt being this close to landing on the moon, and focus on his duty and the safety of his crewmates is really admirable.