The National Aviation Hall of Fame on April 28 reported the passing of former Gemini 7 astronaut Major General Michael Collins USAF (Ret.) at age 90. Collins’ family reports via social media that Collins “passed away today, after a valiant battle with cancer.” Collins, a NAHF enshrine, was better known as the Command Module Pilot on the Apollo 11 mission that allowed Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to become the first humans to set foot on the Moon. Mike Collins created the flight’s iconic Apollo 11 mission patch and also served as the first director of the National Air and Space Museum.
Apollo Astronaut Michael Collins Flies West
Key Takeaways:
- Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins, the Command Module Pilot who orbited the Moon during humanity's first lunar landing, has passed away at age 90.
- Beyond his critical role in Apollo 11, Collins designed the mission's iconic patch and previously served as a Gemini 7 astronaut.
- Collins also notably served as the first director of the National Air and Space Museum, successfully lobbying for its funding and overseeing its highly successful opening in 1976.
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