Michael Collins dies. He was born in Rome, as his father was currently serving in the military at the U.S. Embassy in Italy. After attending the famous West Point Military Academy, he joined the Air Force, where he became a test pilot. In 1963, he was chosen by NASA to become an astronaut: his first mission was aboard Gemini 10. Apollo 11 was his last: he left “the best job in the world” and NASA “the most brilliant chapter of my life, but not the only one,” joining the State Department. A few years later, he became director of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, overseeing its construction and inauguration in 1976. I recommend his book “Carrying the Fire”: it is full of details, reported in a spontaneous and genuine manner; the preface to the first edition (1974) is by Charles Lindberg (first solo Atlantic crossing with the Spirit of St Louis) who died shortly after, and mentions his first meeting with Robert Goddard (father of space flight) in 1929… The Italian version is by Paolo Attivissimo and our association Il COSMo has been a great supporter and front-row contributor.
