Collins, Michael

1930 – He was born on the 31st day of October this year in Rome, Italy.

1952 - He graduated from West Point this year, flew fighters on peacetime assignment in Europe.

1963 - He joined the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and began training as an astronaut.

1966 – He orbited the Earth as pilot for the Gemini X mission (July 18-21st this year), during which he completed two space walks.

1969 – He was the command module pilot for Apollo 11, the American space mission which landed the first humans on the moon.

1970 - He retired from NASA this year and later became the first head of the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.

1974 - His books include the memoir “Carrying the Fire”.

1989 – He became the 17th American in space when he flew in Gemini X... Collins came from a military family.