J. Michael Collins (astronaut)

J. Michael Collins was an American astronaut and aerospace engineer, best known as the command module pilot for Apollo 11, the first mission to land humans on the Moon in 1969. During the mission, he orbited the Moon alone while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin descended to the surface. Collins contributed critically to mission operations and safety. His expertise helped ensure the success of the historic lunar landing, and he later played significant roles in NASA management and space science. Collins is remembered for his professionalism, technical skills, and calmness, which were vital to the success of one of humanity’s greatest exploratory achievements.