U.S. astronaut Michael Collins, a member of the first manned mission to the moon, has died in his 90s

U.S. astronaut Michael Collins, a member of Apollo 11, the first manned mission to the moon, died of cancer on Wednesday, April 28, his family announced at the age of 90. A command and service unit pilot, he was in orbit, while his co-workers Neil Armstrong and Bus Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon.

In its press release, the family of the astronaut wants to be remembered “His quick wit, his quiet sense of duty and the insight he gained by looking at the earth from space and observing the calm waters from his fishing boat.”

Born to a diplomatic father in Rome on October 31, 1930, Michael Collins became a test pilot for the U.S. Army. In the 1960s, he amassed many hours of flight in space, especially during Gemini missions.

The only member of the Apollo 11 crew said the earth did not walk on the satellite and he did not retain any bitterness. Like Aldrin and Armstrong, Collins left NASA after a successful return to Earth and had a rich public life.

Appointed Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs by President Richard Nixon, who later built the Washington Air Museum and assumed the presidency (1971-1978). He later became a consultant and wrote books on space adventure.