Michael Collins, the command pilot and one of the three crewed mission to land on the Moon, Apollo 11 in 1969 – has died aged 90.
A statement by his family revealed Collins died on Wednesday, April 28 after “a valiant battle” with cancer.
“We will miss him terrible. Yet we also know how lucky Mike felt to have lived the life he did.
“Please join us fondly in remembering his sharp wit, his quiet sense of purpose, and his wise perspective, gained both from looking back from Earth from the vantage of space.
“We regret to share that our beloved father and grandfather passed away today, after a valiant battle with cancer.
“He spent his final days peacefully, with his family by his side.
“We will miss him terribly.
“Please join us in fondly and joyfully remembering his sharp wit, his quiet sense of purpose, and his wise perspective, gained both from looking back at Earth from the vantage of space and gazing across calm waters from the deck of his fishing boat”, a statement by the family read.
Michael Collins stayed in lunar orbit as his colleagues Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the Moon.
