Astronaut Michael Collins

Michael Collins, shown in June 1969, was part of the crew of Apollo 11, the first moon landing, but never set foot on the moon. While his two colleagues did their moonwalks, Collins, the command module pilot, stayed behind in the spacecraft orbiting the moon.

Michael Collins, left, appears with his Apollo 11 crewmates Neil Armstrong, center, and Buzz Aldrin in June 1969. Collins retired from NASA a year later and worked in the state department as assistant secretary for public affairs. He also was a directir of Air and Space Museum and undersecretary of the Smithsonian Institution before he went to work in the private sector in 1980.

Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, left, Michael Collins, center, and Buzz Aldrin are shown in May 1969. An Army brat, Collins born in Rome on Oct. 31, 1930. He graduated from West Point, joined the Air Force and was part of the third group of astronauts named by NASA. He flew into space twice.

President Richard M. Nixon greets the Apollo 11 crew, Neil Armstrong, right, Michael Collins, center, and Buzz Aldrin, after their return from their historic flight to the moon. Married to a woman he met in the Air Force, Collins is the father of three, one of whom is a soap opera actress.

President George W. Bush meets with the Apollo 11 crew, Neil Armstrong, left, Michael Collins, center, and Buzz Aldrin on July 21, 2004, the 35th anniversary of their landing on the moon.