US Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins dies at 90

Collins was often described as the 'forgotten' third astronaut on historic Moon mission

This May 1969 photo shows the astronaut crew of the Apollo XI lunar landing mission. Left to right, are Neil A. Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, command module pilot; and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr, lunar module. AFP

Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins (C) and Apollo 9 astronaut Rusty Schweikart (R) shade their eyes, while Apollo 16 astronaut Charlie Duke looks on, while taking a question from a reporter during the 'Legends of Apollo' media in Cocoa Beach, Florida on July 16, 2019. AFP

Astronaut Michael Collins prepares to board on Apollo 11 for the beginning of a mission to the moon 16 July 1969. AFP

US Apollo 11 astronauts Neil A. Armstrong (left), Michael Collins (centre), and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr (right), smile at US President Richard Nixon from their quarantine cabin on July 24, 1969 aboard the USS Hornet, after the successful completion of their lunar landing mission. AFP

US Navy pararescueman Lieutenant Clancey Hatleberg disinfects Apollo 11 astronauts Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Buzz Aldrin, wearing their quarantine suits in the life raft during recovery operations on July 24, 1969 after the successful completion of their lunar landing mission. AFP

Within the mobile quarantine facility-Apollo 11 astronauts Michael Collins, Edwin E. Aldrin and Neil A. Armstrong, talked with President Richard Nixon and relax on the way to Manned Spacecraft Center. NASA / AFP

These NASA handout images show at top the Apollo 11 lunar landing astronaut crew from left: Neil A. Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin E. "buzz" Aldrin Jr. At bottom from left are Edwin E. "Buzz" Aldrin, Michael Collins, Neil Armstrong on the eve of the 40th anniversary of Apollo 11's first human landing on the Moon at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, on July 19, 2009. AFP

Astronaut Michael Collins reads a prayer during a memorial for astronaut Neil Armstrong on September 13, 2012 at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. AFP

The crew of Apollo 11 Michael Collins (L), Neil Armstrong (C) and Buzz Aldrin stand in front of the Apollo command module Columbia after US Vice President Al Gore awarded them the Samuel P. Langley medal 20 July, 1999 at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. AFP

Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins shades his eyes while taking a question from a reporter during the 'Legends of Apollo' media in Cocoa Beach, Florida on July 16, 2019, as NASA celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the landing on the Moon. AFP

US President Donald Trump an First Lady Melania Trump host Apollo 11 crew members Michael Collins (L), Buzz Aldrin and their families on July 19, 2019, at the White House in Washington, DC, during a ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing. AFP

A handout portrait taken in July 1969 of US astronaut Michael Collins. NASA / AFP

The huge, 363-foot tall Apollo 11 Spacecraft 107/Lunar Module S/Saturn 506) space vehicle is launched from Pad A, Launch Complex 39. Kennedy Space Center (KSC), at 9:32 a.m. (EDT) in this 16 July 1969. Onboard the Apollo 11 spacecraft were astronauts Neil Armstrong, commander; Michael Collins, command module pilot; and Edwin E. Aldrin, Jr., lunar module pilot. AFP

The crew men of the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission leave the Kennedy Space Center's (KSC) Manned Spacecraft Operations Building (MSOB) during the pre-launch countdown in this 16 July 1969 file photo. NASA / AFP

Speaker of the House John Boehner holds back tears as he presents Astronaut Neil Armstrong (L) with the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony in the Rotunda of the US Capitol November 16, 2011 in Washington, DC. Getty Images via AFP

Michael Collins listens to remarks before receiving the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony in the Rotunda of the US Capitol on November 16, 2011 in Washington, DC. Getty Images via AFP

US Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins is seen at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, to discuss the impact of his historic mission to the moon on April 15, 2019. AFP

American astronaut Michael Collins, who stayed behind in the command module of Apollo 11 on July 20, 1969, while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin travelled to the lunar surface to become the first humans to walk on the moon, died on Wednesday at age 90, his family said.

A statement released by his family said Collins died of cancer.

Often described as the "forgotten" third astronaut on the historic mission, Collins remained alone for more than 21 hours until his two colleagues returned to the lunar module. He lost contact with mission control in Houston each time the spacecraft was left on the dark side of the moon.

"Not since Adam has any human known such solitude as Mike Collins," the mission log said, referring to the biblical figure.

Collins wrote an account of his experiences in his 1974 autobiography, Carrying the Fire, but largely shunned publicity.

"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," Collins said in comments released by Nasa in 2009.

Collins was born in Rome on October 31, 1930 – the same year as both Armstrong and Aldrin. He was the son of a US Army major general and, like his father, he attended the US Military Academy at West Point, New York, graduating in 1952.

Like many of the first generation of American astronauts, Collins started out as an Air Force test pilot.

In 1963, he was chosen by Nasa for its astronaut programme, still in its early days but ramping up quickly at the height of the Cold War as the US sought to push before the Soviet Union and fulfil John F Kennedy's pledge of landing a man on the Moon by the end of the decade.

Michael Collins's official portrait is seen in this July 1969 handout photo. Reuters

Collins's first voyage into space came in July 1966 as a pilot on Gemini X, part of the missions that prepared Nasa's Apollo programme. The Gemini X mission carried out a successful docking with a separate target vehicle.

His second, and final, space flight was the historic Apollo 11.

He avoided much of the media fanfare that greeted the astronauts on their return to Earth and was later often critical of the cult of celebrity.

After a short stint in government, Collins became director of the National Air and Space Museum, stepping down in 1978. He was also the author of a number of space-related books.

His strongest memory from Apollo 11, he said, was looking back at the Earth, which he said seemed "fragile".

"I really believe that if the political leaders of the world could see their planet from a distance of 100,000 miles, their outlook could be fundamentally changed. That all-important border would be invisible, that noisy argument silenced," he said.

His family's statement said they know "how lucky Mike felt to live the life he did".

"Please join us in fondly and joyfully remembering his sharp wit, his quiet sense of purpose, and his wise perspective, gained both from looking back at Earth from the vantage of space and gazing across calm waters from the deck of his fishing boat."

President Joe Biden issued a statement following Collins's death, thanking him for his "life of service to our country".

"From his vantage point high above the Earth, he reminded us of the fragility of our own planet and called on us to care for it like the treasure it is," Mr Biden said.

"Although, in his life of accomplishment, he earned many titles and achieved the rank of general, he demanded that everyone call him, simply, Mike."

Mr Biden sent his prayers to Collins's family.

"Godspeed, Mike," he concluded.