Clear Skies, Mike.

Michael Collins has passed on. He was the silent one, the one who stayed behind. The first one who had to consider returning alone if his two colleagues would not return from the moon. before Apollo 11, Mike had flown a successful Gemini mission with John Young on which he did a spacewalk.

After leaving NASA Mike Collins, amongst other things, became director of the National Air and Space Museum. 

Photo: NASA / Wikipedia Commons

 

But his most significant thing to me of what he did after leaving NASA was writing Carrying The Fire. His autobiography, not even aided by any ghost writer, just him. And it is the best astronaut book of them all. It is witty, comprehensible, full of great anecdotes, exciting stories and great insights into the world of the astronaut and his daily business. It really is the best book written on how it is to be an astronaut. Period. I recommend it to everyone.

Michael Collins was 90 years old and died of cancer. But he really had an awesome life. I wish him clear skies and godspeed. Thanks for your time with us . And that awesome book. 

Read it people.