Sad news today, hearing that Michael Collins passed away. He is one of my absolute favourite astronauts; every time I saw him speak, he always radiated an authentic zest for life, mixed serious capability with a twinkle of humour & amusement, and he was profoundly connected with our shared humanity. If you can pardon the pun, he seemed someone who was very down to earth, being humble, earnest, eager, excited, and kind.
If you haven’t seen the documentary “In the Shadow of the Moon” do yourself a favour and check it out. It’s a wonderful piece that captures the Apollo program through the astronauts own words and, most importantly, their experiences. Rather than focus on the technical bits and the historical contexts, which, don’t get me wrong, are great and I love that bit too, but this one’s uniquely focused on the astronauts as people and that’s what makes it really special to watch. And watch Michael Collins, who embodies all I said above.
Rest in Peace, Mr Collins. You led us to the moon and back, and left our spirits forever looking towards the stars.
Lynx Thoughts 