10 Interesting Michael Collins Facts

Let’s find out the life of a famous astronaut by reading Michael Collins Facts. He was born on 31 October 1930 in Rome, Italy. His father was a US army Major general, James Lawton Collins. His mother was Virginia Stewart Collins. Check the following post below if you want to know the facts about Collins in detail:

Michael Collins Facts 1: personal life

Collins married to Patricia M. Finnegan on 28 April 1957. Both have three children. In 23 February, Michael was born. Ann and Kathleen were born on 31 October 1961 and 6 May 1959.

Michael Collins Facts 2: education

Let’s find out the education of Michael Collins. In 1952, he went to U.S. Military Academy at West Point, B.S. In 1974, he followed Advanced Management Program in Harvard University.

Michael Collins Astronout

Michael Collins Facts 3: military serve

Collins also has military background. He received as a major general in US air force in 1952 to 1970.

Michael Collins Facts 4: orbiting the moon

Collins had an important job when Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on Moon.  He had to fly the lonely lifeguard job. It orbited on the moon.

Michael Collins Book

Michael Collins Facts 5: two space flights

There are two space flights that Collins had submitted during his career as an astronaut. He had space walking for 1 hour and 27 minutes.  He logged for 266 hours in space.

Michael Collins Facts 6: early career

In his early career, he was the navy test pilot at Edwards Air Force Based from 1960 to 1963. He was lucky that he NASA chose him as an astronaut on 17 October 1963.

Michael Collins Facts

Michael Collins Facts 7: space walking

Do you know that Collins was the third American who walked in space? He did it when he was involved in the Gemini 10 2-man crew from 18 to 21 July 1966.

Michael Collins Facts 8: Apollo 11 mission

Collins also took part on Apollo 11 mission in 1969. He served as the command module pilot. He was onboard when Aldrin and Armstrong walked on moon. Check Neil Armstrong facts here.

Michael Collins Image

Michael Collins Facts 9: Presidential Medal of Freedom

Collin was honored when he received Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1969.  He decided to retire from NASA in 1970.

Michael Collins Facts10: retirement career after leaving NASA

After he left NASA, he became Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs in 1970 till 1971. he was Director of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum in 1971 till 1978.

Michael Collins Pic

On 16 November 2011, Collins along with Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and John Glenn got the Congressional Gold Medal for Distinguished Astronauts. Are you interested reading facts about Michael Collins?