Michael Collins

Michael Collins was a distinguished NASA astronaut who served as Command Module Pilot for the historic Apollo 11 mission in 1969. While his fellow crew members Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the lunar surface, Collins orbited the Moon alone in the Columbia spacecraft, earning him the title "the loneliest man in history." As a member of NASA's third astronaut group, Collins completed two spaceflights during his career. His first mission was Gemini 10 in 1966, where he conducted two spacewalks and performed complex orbital rendezvous maneuvers with Commander John Young. Before his NASA career, Collins graduated from the United States Military Academy and served as an Air Force test pilot. Following his retirement from NASA in 1970, he held positions as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs and director of the National Air and Space Museum, contributing significantly to space education and public outreach until his death in 2021 at age 90.

Readers praise Collins' memoir "Carrying the Fire" for its honest, detailed accounts of astronaut training and spaceflight. Many note his humor and self-deprecating style when describing both technical aspects and personal experiences. His descriptions of orbiting the Moon alone resonated with readers who called them "poetic without being flowery." What readers liked: - Clear, accessible writing style for complex topics - Balance of technical detail with human perspective - Candid observations about fellow astronauts - Philosophical reflections on space exploration What readers disliked: - Some technical sections too detailed for casual readers - Less coverage of post-NASA career than expected Ratings averages: Goodreads: 4.4/5 (5,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (900+ ratings) One reader on Goodreads noted: "Collins writes with the precision of an engineer but the soul of a poet." Another commented: "His descriptions of Earth from space make you feel like you're right there in the command module with him."

Carrying the Fire: An Astronaut's Journeys (1974) A detailed firsthand account of Collins' experiences as an astronaut, covering his Gemini and Apollo missions, NASA training, and personal reflections on spaceflight.

First on the Moon: A Voyage with Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. (1970) A collaborative account of the Apollo 11 mission written by the crew members, providing technical details and personal perspectives of the first lunar landing.

The Keepers of Truth (2000) A novel set in a declining Midwest industrial town during the 1980s, following a newspaper reporter investigating a murder case that exposes community tensions.

Tom Wolfe captures the essence of the early space program and test pilot culture in "The Right Stuff," drawing from extensive research and interviews with astronauts including Collins. His work provides technical accuracy while exploring the psychological and social dynamics of America's first astronauts.

Chris Hadfield writes about spaceflight from direct experience as a NASA-trained astronaut and commander of the International Space Station. His focus on technical details and operational procedures mirrors Collins's approach to describing space missions.

Gene Kranz provides an inside look at Mission Control during the Apollo era from his perspective as NASA flight director. His writing emphasizes the technical challenges and problem-solving aspects of spaceflight that Collins documented in his own work.

Deke Slayton shares first-hand accounts of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs as one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts and NASA's chief of astronaut selection. His writing focuses on the administrative and operational aspects of spaceflight that complement Collins's perspectives.

Walter Cunningham writes about the Apollo program from his experience as an Apollo astronaut who flew on Apollo 7. His accounts detail the technical and procedural aspects of spaceflight while providing context about NASA's organizational culture during the space race.