Tell me a bio of Michael Collins (astronaut).

Include key facts about their life, career, achievements, and impact.

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Michael Collins is an American astronaut, engineer, and test pilot who played a crucial role in the historic Apollo 11 mission in 1969. Here's a brief bio of his life, career, achievements, and impact:

**Early Life and Education**

Michael Collins was born on October 31, 1930, in Rome, Italy, to a family of American diplomats. His father, James Lawton Collins, was a U.S. Army officer and a diplomat. Collins spent his early years in various countries, including Germany, France, and the United States. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1952 and later earned a master's degree in aeronautical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1962.

**Career and Military Service**

Collins joined the United States Air Force in 1952 and became a test pilot at the Edwards Air Force Base in California. He flew over 100 combat missions in Korea and later served as a test pilot at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which later became the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Collins was selected as an astronaut in 1963 and became a member of the second group of astronauts.

**Apollo 11 Mission**

Collins was part of the Apollo 11 mission, which was the first manned mission to land on the Moon. While Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin descended to the lunar surface in the lunar module Eagle, Collins remained in orbit around the Moon in the command module Columbia. Collins' role was crucial, as he had to navigate the spacecraft and ensure the mission's success.

**Achievements and Impact**

Collins' achievements and impact on the Apollo 11 mission are significant:

1. **First Orbit Around the Moon**: Collins became the first person to orbit the Moon alone, a feat that required precise navigation and control of the spacecraft.
2. **Mission Commander**: Collins was the mission commander of the Apollo 11 command module, responsible for ensuring the success of the mission.
3. **Lunar Module Pilot**: Collins was also the lunar module pilot, responsible for preparing the lunar module for launch and ensuring its safe return to Earth.
4. **Pioneering Spaceflight**: Collins' experience on the Apollo 11 mission paved the way for future spaceflight and inspired generations of astronauts and engineers.

**Post-Apollo Career**

After the Apollo 11 mission, Collins continued to work at NASA, serving as the director of the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas. He retired from NASA in 1970 and later became a writer and lecturer. Collins wrote several books, including "Carrying the Fire: An Astronaut's Journey" and "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story."

**Legacy**

Michael Collins' legacy is that of a pioneering astronaut, engineer, and test pilot who played a crucial role in the historic Apollo 11 mission. His achievements and impact on the mission continue to inspire new generations of space explorers and engineers. Collins passed away on April 28, 2021, at the age of 90, leaving behind a legacy of courage, innovation, and exploration.
Michael Collins was an American astronaut, aeronautical engineer, and Air Force officer. Born on October 31, 1930, in Rome, Italy, to an American family, he passed away on April 28, 2021, at the age of 90.

**Early Life and Education**

Collins spent his childhood in various parts of the United States due to his family's frequent moves. He graduated from St. Albans School in Washington, D.C. in 1948 and later attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering in 1952 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force.

**Career and Spaceflight**

Collins served in the Air Force, working as a test pilot before being selected for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Astronaut Group 2 in 1963. Throughout his NASA career, he flew on several missions, including Gemini 10 in 1966 and Apollo 11, although he did not walk on the Moon.

However, during Apollo 11, Collins orbited the Moon in the command module "Columbia" while Neil Armstrong and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin descended to the lunar surface in the lunar module "Eagle." His actions were crucial to the success of the mission, providing a stable and controlled orbit around the Moon.

**Achievements and Impact**

Collins was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, and the NASA Exceptional Service Medal for his contributions to the success of the Apollo program. He also received the National Space Trophy from the Flight Museum in 1999.

Collins was a prolific writer, penning several books about space exploration, including "Carrying the Fire: An Astronaut's Journal" (1974) and "Mission Control Remembered: Stories from the Other Side of the Space Age" (2009).

**Legacy**

Michael Collins will be remembered as a pioneering astronaut and engineer who played a vital role in the successful completion of the Apollo 11 mission, paving the way for future human spaceflight. His writings offer insight into the challenges and triumphs of space exploration, preserving his legacy as one of the greatest figures in the history of space travel.