What is Michael Collins (astronaut)?
{{Infobox astronaut |name =Michael Collins |image =Michael collins.jpg |type =Astronaut |nationality =[[United States|American]] |birth_date ={{birth date|1930|10|31}} |death_date = {{death date and age|2021|4|28|1930|10|31}} |birth_place =[[Rome]], [[Italy]] |death_place = [[Naples, Florida]], U.S. |resting_place = [[Arlington National Cemetery]] |occupation =[[Test pilot]] |rank =[[Major General]], [[United States Air Force|USAFR]] |selection =[[List of astronauts by selection#1963|1963 NASA Group]] |time =11d 02h 04m |mission =[[Gemini 10]], [[Apollo 11]] |insignia =[[File:Gemini 10 mission patch original.png|40px]] [[File:Apollo 11 insignia.png|40px]] |}} '''Michael Collins''' (October 31, 1930 – April 28, 2021) was an [[Americans|American]] [[astronaut]] and [[test pilot]]. He was the [[pilot]] of the [[Apollo 11]] mission to the [[moon]]. == Air force pilot == Collins went to the [[United States Military Academy]]. After training, he joined the [[United States Air Force]]. He flew [[F-86]]s at [[Chambley-Bussieres Air Base]], [[France]]. He got into the [[U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School|USAF Experimental Flight Test Pilot School]] at [[Edwards Air Force Base]] in 1960. He tried to get into the second astronaut training group but he was not accepted. He did get into the third group. == Astronaut == Collins joined the third group of fourteen astronauts in 1963. He had 2 space flights. His first [[spaceflight]] was in Gemini 10. With John Young they joined up in space with two different [[spacecraft]]. Collins also did two space walks. His second space flight was in ''[[Apollo 11]]'' where he was the command module pilot. While he kept going around the Moon, [[Neil Armstrong]] and [[Buzz Aldrin]] landed on the lunar surface. He is one of only 24 people to have flown to the Moon. == Later life and death == Collins left [[NASA]] in 1970. He took a job in the Department of State as Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs during the [[Ri