The forgotten astronaut

 

Neil Armstrong. Buzz Aldrin. Michael Collins..? He's the one who stayed behind to man the ship. While Armstrong and Aldrin conquered the Moon, bounced around in space suits and planted flags, Michael Collins orbited the Moon alone, cut off from all contact with humankind. He was, you might say, 'the unlucky one'.

Or so it's often assumed. But in an illuminating Q&A, published by NASA today, Collins, 78, puts paid to any perception that he is resentful or that his role on Apollo 11 was merely playing chauffeur to the heroes.

"I know that I would be a liar or a fool if I said that I have the best of the three Apollo 11 seats, but I can say with truth and equanimity that I am perfectly satisfied with the one I have. This venture has been structured for three men, and I consider my third to be as necessary as either of the other two," he says.

Reading his responses, to "the questions I am most frequently asked, plus a few others", you'll detect no false modesty or bitterness. He gives the impression that such a momentous experience as space travel simply transcends pettiness and self-centred ambition.

The Q&A also provides fascinating insights into less documented moments of the mission. The image of Collins drifting alone around the dark side of the moon is quietly as striking as the stock footage of Armstrong and Aldrin. "If a count were taken, the score would be three billion plus two over on the other side of the moon, and one plus God knows what on this side," he says.

Collins also rejects the romantic, heroic image of astronauts. "Heroes abound, and should be revered," he says. "But don't count astronauts among them". In his view, the Apollo crew "worked very hard and did their jobs to near perfection" but did nothing above and beyond the call of duty.

Times Archive: Men on the Moon

Comments

[Miguel Angel]

And yet you three are heroes to me.I salute you Michael Collins.

[Bill W. Houston, Texas]

Just because he didn't set foot on the moon, I never forgot Michael Collins. In fact after Apollo 11, he was offered the command of another lunar mission, which he turned down.

[Rod Macbeth]

Michael Collins is a team player and I can't think of a more important place to be one.

[Robin]

Wasn't it of Michael Collins that someone at NASA came up with the magnificent phrase that behind the moon he "became the Man most alone since Adam"? Who says NASA couldn't do poetry!

[T. Varadaraj]

The Apollo program must be appreciated for the phenomenal synchronization of diversified efforts, from the unique engines, to the massive rockets to the computer software to the astronauts who were picked on the basis of maintaining their calm in the most stressful situations (like Apollo 13). There are other giants like Werner von Braun, Rocco Petrone, Christopher Kraft, Gene Kranz without whom the program could not have happened. I believe the astronauts appreciated that most, which is why Armstrong refuses the individual glory that's thrust upon him as the first man on the moon. Michael Collins fits that mold.

[Carlos]

Had Mike Collins stayed on, NASA's crew rotation schedule meant he would have been back-up commander of Apollo 14. And then, very likely, prime commander of Apollo 17. That would have made Collins The Last Man off the Moon.

[Victoria Lenne]

Robin, I do recall that quote, and also remember the very cold feeling I had thinking of M. Collins there in such cold dark silence.

[Douglas Johnston]

Good article, Michael Collins is just as much of a hero as any of the other Apollo astronauts.

One thing though, the other side of the moon is the "far side" not the "dark side". The Dark Side of the Moon is a Pink Floyd album. When we observe a "new moon" on Earth, the far side is quite illuminated even though we can't see it.

[darrow]

For here am I sitting in a tin can, far above the world....

[Warren]

I was an avid follower of the space program in the 60's and at the time and since always remembered the Apollo 11 crew as "Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins", not just the two that walked on the moon. He was the consummate professional!

[mike]

> 'One thing though, the other side of the moon is the "far side" not the "dark side".'

Well, not exactly. The "far side" of the moon is also the "dark side" of the moon 50% of the time -- just as the "near side" becomes the "dark side" the other 50%.

In fact, every planet (and moon) has a "dark side" -- that's where there is currently no sunshine. On Earth we call the "dark side" of Earth the "night side".

[Ger Delaney]

I remember reading once that Collins was specifically chosen for this role as he was believed to have the mental fortitude to be able to go home alone in the event of the unthinkable happening and Armstrong and Aldrin either being lost or forced to remain (and die) on the Moon! Truly a strong character

[N.S.Gireesh Kumar, From India]

Micheal Collins' job was tough,unique and "less glamorous" just the way the most important jobs present itself.To fly solo miles away from Planet Earth takes guts and when history being created to remain alone and away from the limelight speaks volumes about his strength of character.He probably was the strongest link in the entire mission chain!

[drew]

"For here am I sitting in a tin can, far above the world"

The song was actually about a different mission, though I can't remember which one. I'm also not sure whether "Major Tom" was really the guys name, or if it was chosen simply because it worked better with the song...

[Alma]

As if they had gone to the moon in the first place! why dont we ask Mr Kubrick why he decided to give that role to Collins?

[Jennifer]

Perhaps I have my facts mixed up, but I believe that "the dark side of the moon" refers not to visible darkness, but to radio darkness. The moon gets in the way of radio transmissions, so when astronauts are on the "dark" or "far" side of the moon, they travel in radio darkness, unable to use their radios to communicate with Earth. I imagine that it's possible Collins was also out of contact with Aldrin and Armstrong for brief periods.