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Rest In Peace - Michael Collins
Lazybones
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USAF (Ret) 1974 - 1994 - The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries. Remembering RickO, a brother in arms.
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As I learned last year, that's his design.
https://forums.collectors.com/discussion/1044924/the-eisenhower-dollar-reverse-was-designed-by-an-astronaut-the-process-in-mike-collins-own-words
Never knew that, thanks!
Don't forget the SBA reverse.
He was, for a short time, the loneliest human in history. This happened when the command module was opposite the moon from Neil and Buzz. The flight profile of Apollo 15 eventually surpassed this record, by a miniscule amount. RIP!
RIP.
One of my favorite memories was at a space convention about 5 years ago. I was hanging out with my friend Dick Gordon, who was the Command Module pilot for Apollo 12 (the same position as Collins had in Apollo 11). There is a famous picture of the Apollo 11 command and service module, Columbia, seen from the lunar module, Eagle, as Eagle is returning from the Moon's surface. At about 10 o'clock on Columbia is a white piece of hardware extending from it.
I asked Dick what the hardware was. He mentioned all sorts of possibilities, but couldn't remember what it was. Sitting in the booth right next to Dick was Mike Collins. Dick leaned over and asked Mike if he could remember what the item was. They went back and forth but neither of them could remember what it was. It was fun watching the two of them, who had LITERALLY bet their lives on this hardware, try and figure out what it was. They were a nice mix of joking and joshing and seriously trying to remember what the item was.
Mike's first space mission was on Gemini 10, which launched 7/18/66. Here's a Kennedy from that year...
U.S. Type Set
So what was the hardware?
They weren't able to tell me, so I haven't a clue.
U.S. Type Set
That leaves Buzz Aldrin as the last surviving member of Apollo 11.
RIP
I remember him saying that he was the only person (at that time) that could see every human being at once.
These are the heroes of my childhood. What bravery.
USAF (Ret) 1974 - 1994 - The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries. Remembering RickO, a brother in arms.
My Dad was a geologist who helped train Apollo astronauts (and astronaut candidates) for future missions to the moon. In 1965 several groups of astronauts came to the Nevada Test Site to learn about geology. My Dad managed to get the signatures of one group on a post card:
Tragically, four of these astronauts died not long after the postcard was signed in early 1965:
Donn Eisele
Command Module pilot for the first Apollo flight (Apollo 7).
Alan Bean
Lunar Module pilot for Apollo 12 (the third person to walk on the Moon);
Commander for the Skylab 3 mission.
Charlie Bassett
Never flew in space;
Died tragically in a training jet crash with Elliot See on 28 February 1966.
Gene Cernan
Pilot for Gemini 9;
Orbited the Moon as Lunar Module pilot for Apollo 10;
Commander of Apollo 17 (currently the LAST human to have walked on the Moon).
Clifton Curtis ("CC") Williams
Never flew in space;
Died tragically due to mechanical failure of his training jet on 05 October 1967.
Michael Collins
Pilot for Gemini 10;
Command Module pilot for Apollo 11.
Walt Cunningham
Pilot for Apollo 7.
Elliot See
Never flew in space;
Died tragically in a training jet crash with Charlie Bassett on 28 February 1966.
Roger B Chaffee
Died tragically during ground testing in the capsule of Apollo 1 on 27 January 1967.
@SkyMan and @dcarr great stories! Another Legend passes on.
What an exciting time that was-watching the Apollo 11 mission on our first color TV.
Here's the Robbins Medal for Michael Collins:
Sad to hear of his passing.
Sad to see these pioneers passing... They were giants among men at that time. Incredible adventurers. Cheers, RickO
A true American hero in every possible way. I believe landing man on the moon was our finest hour, as a country.
RIP, Michael Collins. What a great group of Americans he belongs with. Some of the most heroic that I remember.
Jim
When a man who is honestly mistaken hears the truth, he will either quit being mistaken or cease to be honest....Abraham Lincoln
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.....Mark Twain
What a view he has of Earth now.....must rival his 1969 view. RIP.